Veterans Give History Voice

Timothy Akimoff

The Oregonian, November 08, 2005.

“Milwaukie -- Milwaukie High School students got a chance Monday to meet history face to face. A 107-year-old World War I veteran, a Navajo code talker, six members of the Tuskegee Airmen, a Holocaust survivor and Adolf Hitler's last personal courier joined more than 500 U.S. veterans for the school's 10th Annual Living History Day celebration. Deeply lined faces stretched into smiles as students, some dressed in suits and ties, excitedly questioned the visitors in classrooms and around tables in the cafeteria.

‘Ten years ago, the concept that American high school students would dress up in their best to pay their respects to the veterans was unbelievable,’ said Ken Buckles, an award-winning teacher who started Living History Day because of his love of military history and to honor veterans. World War II, which ended 60 years ago, was this year's theme.

About 170 World War II veterans participated, many despite illness and advanced age. ‘Oh, the students were very enthusiastic,’ 84-year-old Tuskegee Airman Alex Jefferson said as he held his replica P-51C Mustang, the aircraft better known as the ‘Red Tails’ made famous by the highly decorated African American pilots and support personnel. Jefferson and Richard Macon, 84, both from Detroit, and their fellow airmen kept students on the edge of their seats with tales of firefights, crash landings, prisoner of war camps, segregation and racism. ‘I was treated better in a German prison camp than I was in Mississippi,’ Jefferson said, drawing gasps.

In a nearby classroom, some students listened to a Native American soldier who survived the Bataan death march while others heard Armin Lehmann, who at age 16 was Hitler's courier, recount the final days of the Third Reich.”

Special thanks to Gina Boltz for sharing this article.

This amazing article crossed my desktop through the H-Amindian Listserve. This teacher's efforts to reach across time, history, races, and cultures are awe-inspiring.

Warm Regards,
Gina Boltz, Director
Native Village Publications
A National Heritage Foundation
Native Village

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Last updated on November 15, 2005