CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Student-Athlete Leadership Council have honored local veterans with a mural at Hoosac Valley High School.

 

After watching a documentary on the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, cross country and lacrosse player Paige Barrow thought it would be a good idea to honor veterans who attended Adams and Cheshire schools.

 

"There are so many people from our school that graduated and have gone into the service and I just think it is a huge accomplishment," Barrow said. 

 

She contacted Dean of Students and Student-Athlete Leadership Council organizer Molly Meczywor and pitched her idea.

 

Meczywor said she thought it would be a great project that fell right in line with the Council's goal.

 

"We want students to develop leadership skills through service," she said. "We have done a ton of things, like last year we raked leaves, we do the bonfires, we collected hats and mittens ... we try to provide opportunities for the kids to serve their local communities and be leaders on and off the field."

 

Meczywor said Barrow did much of the work and through Facebook sought out names of veterans. She organized students to paint the large American flag on the wall in the school's atrium on which the names are written.

 

Meczywor said they realized that they were quickly running out of space.

 

"We have run out of room so we need to buy a white marker now and start writing on the red stripes," she said. "We thought maybe there would be 40 but names came in quick. We did an unveiling on Nov. 15 but names keep coming in."

 

The Council has set up a link here where names can be added.

 

Meczywor said they have also tossed around the idea of adding another flag if more names come in.

 

Barrow said some of the veterans on the wall attended the unveiling.

 

"The seemed really happy to see their names on the wall," she said.