The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Wednesday, April 9, 2003

Collection of recollections


School's Hall of Heroes cites military photos

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Herald Staff Writer

Even though Jamie Zlatanov's older brother Shawn is thousands of miles away, a member of the Marine Corps fighting on the eastern side of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, she can still see him every day she goes to school at Greenville Area Junior-Senior High School.

"I'd much rather have him home," the senior girl said, "but I understand that's what he has to do."

The high school has lined its walls with more than 30 full-color photographs of military personnel. The photos are of friends, family members, brothers, sisters, cousins and neighbors of students. Framed in backgrounds of red, white and blue, the displays tell the name, branch, unit and location of each service member, along with when and where they graduated high school.

"We started out with just family members," said principal John Zieglear, "and then it just snowballed from there. We still get two or three pictures each day."

A joint effort from three faculty and staff members at the school, along with participation from eager students and parents, has made the school's "Hall of Heroes" possible.

A large banner, also painted red, white and blue, lists the names of hundreds of military personnel as well.

"It doesn't take very long looking at it before you find someone you know," Zieglear said.

The displays were coordinated by Ginny Richardson, the junior high guidance counselor; Missy Nitch, a teachers aide; and Joan Faltot, activities coordinator. Merrily Bottorff, an art teacher, also helped put the displays together.

Ms. Nitch, whose son is also fighting in Iraq with the Marines, came up with the idea as a way to boost patriotism in the school, and to honor those who serve the country.

A notice was sent home with students, asking for photographs and information about local service people.

"The next day, we were getting pictures," Ms. Richardson said. "The response has been really wonderful."

To keep the photos at a uniform size, each picture is taken to a Greenville print shop, where it is enlarged, in full color, and then mounted on the wall.



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