Gulf Shores High School students are raising funds for a memorial dedicated to local Vietnam Veterans and they need the community’s help.
Advanced Placement History and Advanced Placement Language and Composition students are completing a cross-curricular project focused on the Vietnam War and the Cambodian Genocide. The project includes reading the nonfiction novel “First They Killed My Father,” studying Vietnam, writing essays, hosting guest speakers and planning a cross-curricular design project.
The students, moved by their studies, want to honor local Vietnam Veterans with a community art project for the cross-curricular design project. Turtle Tracks has provided a 4-foot-tall fiberglass sea turtle statue the students will design and decorate and a plaque to honor veterans.
Turtle Tracks is a public art project dedicated to the awareness and support of environmental conservation, sustainable tourism, and community arts and culture, while enhancing the quality of life along Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
“We are super proud of these students. They have written emails to city leaders, arranged meetings with the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance and coordinated cross-curricular activities. They have truly taken ownership and have been excited to give back to their community,” said Natalie Hubbard, Gulf Shores High School English teacher.
The students are working to raise $1,600 for the supplies needed to complete the project. Several students were present at the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber’s First Friday Forum, May 7, to bring awareness to the project by passing out flyers and speaking with community leaders and business owners.
The students are seeking permission to place the memorial outside the Gulf Shores Museum where it can be visible to the public.
If you would like more information on this project, please email Natalie Hubbard nhuddard@gsboe.org or Amanda Reffitt areffitt@gsboe.org. Would you like to donate? Checks need to be made out to Gulf Shores High School and noted Veterans Memorial project. Donations can be mailed to Gulf Shores High School, 600 E. 15th Avenue, Gulf Shores, AL 36542.
