CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Ahead of Veterans Day, a memorial wall honoring veterans has officially opened inside Caledonia High School.
Brody Woodwyk, a Caledonia alumnus, helped create the permanent tribute inside the school. An unveiling ceremony happened there Sunday afternoon with community veterans attending.
“I think it’s important to remember our veterans who have served our country,” Woodwyk said. “They’re the reason we can live in this country with freedom and peace.”
Woodwyk is in his first year at Michigan State University’s Air Force ROTC program. He hopes to become an officer in the Air Force Security Forces. It’s a family tradition of service, as his father served in the U.S. Army.
“Just seeing him doing what he does every day, it truly inspired me to follow his footsteps and follow his path to the military,” he said.
After his junior year at Caledonia High School, he attended an armed forces luncheon in Grand Rapids along with his teacher. He said a speaker gave him the challenge to return to his community and come up with something dedicated to veterans.
Woodwyk ultimately came up with the designs for the memorial wall that shares the names and stories of veterans. He gave the plans to his teacher, and the two got the parent-teacher-student organization and school board involved. With help from fundraisers at a local basketball game and a restaurant, he ended up raising over $10,000 to bring the idea to life.
The interactive display allows people to search for veterans by their last name or their branch of service. The database goes back several decades.
“It showcases who they are, the year they graduated, any conflicts or wars they were involved in, any medals or achievements,” Woodwyk explained.
He hopes it inspires others to build their own memorials or take a moment to appreciate a veteran’s service.
“Even just a small gesture of simply thanking a veteran for their service if they walk by one,” he said.