Our Experience
When we first tackled this enduring project, we didn't know what to expect. Not only were we anxious to begin researching, but we were also nervous about the pressure of being able to capture the monumental sacrifice Lt. Barclay and thousands of other men made for us in the name of freedom. In the early stages, we watched Saving Private Ryan in order to get a feel for patriotism of watching men sacrifice their lives in hopes of a better tomorrow. It is safe to say that we used more than a half of box of tissues over the course of the movie! And by the end, we all had a better understanding of WWII and had the fresh motivation to commemorate the brave men who willingly put their life on the line for our beautiful country. When Betsy explained to us that her brother had enlisted in the Navy and sacrificed his life to accomplish his D-Day mission, we can say with certainty that we each felt a similar lump in our throats and chills down our spines as when watching the movie.
As we have moved through this project, we have worked our hardest to commemorate Lt. Barclay's life and ensure that his legacy will live on for future generations to learn of the sacrifices that he and all of the U.S. WWII soldiers made for their country, just as we came to realize in such a short period of time. And we really have to thank the initiative that our amazing World History teacher, Mr. Peter Porter, has taken in accordance with the National History Day organization. In today's society, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a WWII veteran or someone who can tell the story from a first/second-hand point of view. Slowly but surely, the NHD organization will cover all the soldiers and create a story that they can be defined by, rather than "just another American soldier." And this was an experience that was worthwhile all the time we put in and simply rewarding, with the joy of piecing together the legacy of Lieutenant Richard Barclay and also the feeling of being a part of such an innovative mission.
And looking back at history class this year, the Fallen Soldiers Project has become more than just a "project." It has significantly defined our freshmen year of high school and has taught us life lessons. Late nights of discoveries and long meetings to discuss our progress had become something we eagerly looked forward to. Throughout our long journey of researching and learning about Lieutenant Richard Barclay's life, we have all grown to become young and mature women, proud of our country and the things it has to offer. We have learned to appreciate the sacrifices people make in life, whether it's volunteering time for others or sacrificing one's life for the good of one's country and its citizens. Richard enlisted in the Navy to fight for his country and everything that it stands for. He gave up the comforts of his life so that we could enjoy our life today. We have to take this opportunity to reflect upon the heroic actions of the American WWII soldiers, as well as of the current men and women in uniform that were and are taken to ensure our safety. God bless these amazing silent heroes, both past and present, who all deserve our country's utmost respect and honor.
~Thilaka Arunachalam, Alysse Merila, Jennifer Cinque, Stacy Wang
As we have moved through this project, we have worked our hardest to commemorate Lt. Barclay's life and ensure that his legacy will live on for future generations to learn of the sacrifices that he and all of the U.S. WWII soldiers made for their country, just as we came to realize in such a short period of time. And we really have to thank the initiative that our amazing World History teacher, Mr. Peter Porter, has taken in accordance with the National History Day organization. In today's society, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a WWII veteran or someone who can tell the story from a first/second-hand point of view. Slowly but surely, the NHD organization will cover all the soldiers and create a story that they can be defined by, rather than "just another American soldier." And this was an experience that was worthwhile all the time we put in and simply rewarding, with the joy of piecing together the legacy of Lieutenant Richard Barclay and also the feeling of being a part of such an innovative mission.
And looking back at history class this year, the Fallen Soldiers Project has become more than just a "project." It has significantly defined our freshmen year of high school and has taught us life lessons. Late nights of discoveries and long meetings to discuss our progress had become something we eagerly looked forward to. Throughout our long journey of researching and learning about Lieutenant Richard Barclay's life, we have all grown to become young and mature women, proud of our country and the things it has to offer. We have learned to appreciate the sacrifices people make in life, whether it's volunteering time for others or sacrificing one's life for the good of one's country and its citizens. Richard enlisted in the Navy to fight for his country and everything that it stands for. He gave up the comforts of his life so that we could enjoy our life today. We have to take this opportunity to reflect upon the heroic actions of the American WWII soldiers, as well as of the current men and women in uniform that were and are taken to ensure our safety. God bless these amazing silent heroes, both past and present, who all deserve our country's utmost respect and honor.
~Thilaka Arunachalam, Alysse Merila, Jennifer Cinque, Stacy Wang
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