As Memorial Day approaches, do yourself a favor and read this amazing story from the Chicago Tribune about a schoolteacher who guided his students to identify worn tombstones of once-forgotten Civil War soldiers at a cemetery overlooking Route 66 in Odell, Illinois.
The Tribune also created a video about the Operation Gravestone project, which likely will make a huge impact for cemeteries across the country.
Operation Gravestone obviously makes a big emotional impact on veterans. But award-winning teacher Paul Ritter’s guidance will make a big impact on his students as well. They not only learned, but they became problem-solvers and grew more empathetic when they saw how their efforts were appreciated.
And to think it all started because a veteran asked the teacher: “Did you ever think about finding out who’s buried in those seven graves?”
(Screen capture from Chicago Tribune video of Odell Township Cemetery in Odell, Illinois)