It’s a high school history project that has resulted in a meaningful display that will be shared with the community.
Ryan McKenna’s Arnprior District High School (ADHS) Grade 10 class is gearing up for opening night Legacy of Courage: The Lives Behind the Uniforms of WWII – Arnprior During the Second World War (1939-1945), this Thursday night at the Arnprior and District Museum.
The exhibit, created in partnership with the museum and the Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives, involved students researching local veterans who served during World War II and developing the exhibit to showcase their findings and hard work.
McKenna said the museum and the archives have always been really wonderful to support initiatives and programs at the school and all involved thought this project would be a great way to create an “important and meaningful” exhibit to share with the community.
Riyyan Qureshi, Ainslee Dolan, Ava Regier, and Jayme Lushman are among the 30 participating students.
Ava said it was very interesting to learn about the local soldiers.
Riyyan was also curious to research his assigned person.
Jayme was surprised to learn she already knew relatives of her research subject, Edna Veitch.
There are connections to well-known, historic people and industries, including Kenwood Mills, noted Ainslee.
And because many of those who went to war were so young, there was plenty of connection between the high school and the soldiers.
McKenna said the project was made all the more special by several students connecting with the relatives of the soldiers and veterans, as well as other people interested in researching the history.
Ava said all the students are eager to share the project with the public.
Legacy of Courage opens at a special event this Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. and will be on display at the museum until February.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)
This photo of the 1938/39 championship ADHS football team includes Nick Smith, who the Nick Smith Centre is named after, is holding the trophy. John Yade, bottom row, second from the left, was unfortunately the first boy from Arnprior killed during the war. Teacher Ryan McKenna said he believes the entire team, including the coach, enlisted with the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, or the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII.
