WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsA teacher's ultimate goal: putting a face with the name

A teacher's ultimate goal: putting a face with the name

by Colby Robertson

MEDFORD (WAOW) -- A Medford Social Studies teacher is taking his passion for learning and teaching to a whole new level.

Bryce Kelley and his 8th grade students have worked for nearly three years learning about every single Wisconsin Soldier who died in the Vietnam War.

"The thing that gets lost a lot of times is that we learn a lot about war, whether it's World War I, World war II, Iraq. You hear about soldiers going over and fighting, but you don't learn about who they were. They were sons, they were husbands, they were brothers," says Kelley.  

Bryce Kelley's father was a veteran of the Vietnam War, but like many veterans the war was something that was never talked about. So, he grew up determined to learn about it, determined to learn about all one thousand, one hundred and 61 Wisconsin soldiers who died in Vietnam.

He's taken that curiosity to his classroom. The project is called "Put a face with the Name." The idea is for each of his students to find a picture and story for each and every one of those soldiers.

8th grader Monica Strebig says, "I did a little research about mine and I learned about their family and just how old they were when they started serving and when they came back and what they really did do over there."

When this project started there were less than a hundred photos for Wisconsin soldiers. Nearly three years later, they're more than half way there. Letters and pictures are still coming in from not only Wisconsin, but from all across the country.

The original goal was to get as many pictures as possible by Veteran's Day 2009 because that's when the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall will be in Medford and all 1,161 posters will be on display nearby.

Kelley says, "It will start with Abbotsford which is the first town alphabetically in Wisconsin and they'll travel all the way through Wyoming which is the last town alphabetically and they'll be able to look at each cities contribution or sacrifice to the Vietnam War."

It has taken nearly three years and more than 700 students to get this project ready; a project that Mr. Kelley and his students have worked diligently on.

Strebig says, "I think about how many people would be excited and happy when they see that their soldier and their loved one will be on the wall and they see that we worked really hard."

This project is far from being done. Nearly 500 of these posters are still missing pictures, a face to put with a name.

Kelley says, "Slowly we're getting there and I don't know how long it's going to take until we reach that goal."

Veteran's Day is November 11th and there is a full schedule of events for the entire week.

Wednesday, November 11th at 8:30 a.m. will be the Veteran's Day Ceremony and Opening of Wall to public. At 6:00 p.m. will be the Community Music Festival at the Medford Area Middle School. Music will feature patriotic tunes from all eras.

Thursday, November 12th at 6:00 p.m. Medford Schools Music Festival, featuring tunes from all eras.

Friday, November 13th at 7:00 p.m. Performance by Hank Cramer, a country and folk singer from the state of Washington. Hank's father, Captain Harry G. Cramer, was killed in Vietnam in 1957, the first American soldier lost in that conflict.

Saturday, November 14th community music groups will be providing music throughout the day. Look and listen for details later on.

Sunday, November 15th at 7:30 a.m. Ecumenical Worship Service. 9:00 a.m. Gold Star Mother recognition, wreath laying ceremony, social. 4:00 p.m. Closing ceremony.

All event will be at the Medford Area Middle School at 509 East Clark Street. They are still looking for volunteers. If you're interested contact Bryce Kelley at (715) 748-2516 or email him at kellebr@medford.k12.wi.us.

Online Reporter: Colby Robertson