Every year, Thornapple Kellogg Middle School 8th-grade social studies teacher Rojean Sprague takes her students to cemeteries in the area to decorate grave sites of veterans with American flags. She also gives a short lesson to students prior to the cemetery visits. The lesson tells students the true meaning of Memorial Day. She then also relates the story of Nick Roush - a Middleville native who was killed in action.
"It has been humbling for me for the last 10 years to be a part of sharing Nick Roush's story as a portion of the lesson. I promised almost 10 years ago that I won't let Nick be forgotten and that I would work at teaching others what the sacrifice of Nick means for the rest of us," she said.
Sprague said doing this community service project with her students is extremely important to her and that she hopes it will continue to be a school project for many years.
Sprague thanked Thornapple, Irving and Rutland townships for allowing the students to help decorate the graves. She said the students have never disappointed her in their attention to this important lesson and the respect they show during the cemetery visits.