Students Help Honor Veterans Ahead of Memorial Day

“Found one,” comes a shout, followed by a tick on the clipboard with a grease pencil. “Do you know what Hezbollah is? They attacked us,” one said, handing a flag. “Here’s one, the Navy. Wow, they lived a long life. I wish I knew him.” “I worked on a submarine,” one veteran said. “I’ve never been to the graveyard, ever.” “I was here last week, that’s my Grandma over there.” These are just a few of the many phrases Tracy Delyea heard as her Colville students were placing flags on the graves of service members on May 21 at the cemetery. Deylea’s Art, Drawing, Photography, Advanced Placement, and Printmaking students from Colville High School helped local Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Kelly O’Keeffe Post, with their annual tradition. She said the class learned about flag etiquette, different branches of service, and what it means to be a member of the Colville community. “The main lesson was the importance of remembering and appreciating our service members who have gone before us, not only on Memorial Day, but every day. Thank you to all who have served on behalf of myself and my students,” Delyea said.