Local teens and veterans came together recently through the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation and the Veterans Council of Indian River County at Saint Edward’s School to collaborate for the “Teens Listen” program offered through the Foundation.
One of the aims of the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation is to preserve and share oral history of citizens of our community. One of the ways the Foundation does this is through the “Teens Listen” program. Teens have a unique opportunity to interview veterans that have served our country. This involves training sessions for the students on the interview process. The veterans and the students then have an interview session where the students document their experiences through a series of questions which they record. The students then write a reflective essay and submit it to their teacher.
The program is rewarding for the students as well as the Veterans. One student recently reflected on the experience and was enthusiastic about learning the humorous tidbit that the Air Force has the best food! The Veterans share their experience with camaraderie, hard work and perseverance. Students come away with thoughts on not just what they want to be, but who they want to be as they make plans for their futures.
In the most recent interviews at Saint Edward’s School , there were eleven students and eleven local veterans. Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation and the Veterans Council of Indian River County, and Saint Edward’s School administrators and teachers came together to make this event possible. Special thanks to: Colonel Marty Zickert, US Air Force, Colonel Carlos Halcomb, US Air Force, Lieutenant Colonel Carroll Oates, US Army, Jack Berrigan, US Army, Jim Romanek, US Air Force, John Stoll, US Air Force, Ken Dale, US Army, Kris Hasenauer, US Army, Major Terry Treat, US Army, Tad Woodhull, US Air Force, Jim Mann, US Army.
The Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation is committed to writing, poetry and literature as well as preserving the namesake’s cottage on the campus of Indian River State College’s Brackett Campus. Laura Riding Jacksonwas a pioneer of 20th Century Modernism and moved to Florida in 1941 to live a simple life in a “Cracker” style house and pursue her writing. Tours of the house are available by appointment.
The Veterans Council of Indian River County supports all IRC Veterans and their families while raising awareness of veteran’s needs and their contributions to society and our local communities. Visit www.lrjf.org and veteranscouncilirc.org for more information about these important local organizations and their contributions to our communities.
