CALEDONIA, Mich. (WOOD) — A new veteran memorial that was created by a former student was revealed at Caledonia High School Sunday.
The dedication ceremony and open house happened Sunday afternoon at Caledonia High School.
“It’s just a time to come together to celebrate and to honor these students, former students and community members who have selflessly given and made the choice to serve our country,” Heather Tornes, a teacher at the school, said.
Tornes has been working with Brody Woodwyk since last year to get this memorial ready. Woodwyk was a senior at the high school last year and wanted to do something to honor veterans in his community and educate others about what they do.
Through fundraising, he raised more than $10,000 for the memorial with support from the community. The memorial has an interactive screen where you can look through and learn about different veterans in the community.
Patrick Gillies, a former student who served in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduation, said he’s happy to see his alma mater recognizing the service of others.
“I think we should have had something like this a while ago. I think more people need to realize the sacrifice that our vets have made. And I’m not just talking about myself. I’m talking about others that have made greater sacrifices than me. This is just amazing,” Gillies said.
If you or your loved one is a veteran or currently serving in the military, you can be displayed on the screen. There is a link on the Caledonia Community Schools website where you can fill out an online form.