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Students want to honor WWII vets By VICKI GUARINO MailTribune.com By VICKI GUARINO Posted Jan. 10, 2000 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 2:42 AM By VICKI GUARINO Posted Jan. 10, 2000 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 2:42 AM » Social News Students want to honor WWII vets — — North Medford kids launch campaign to call it the Interstate 5 World War II Memorial Freeway — — — — Call them crazy. — — After all, Melissa Stewart says she thought it sounded crazy when classmates at North Medford High School told her what they were about to do: campaign to rename Interstate 5 as a memorial to World War II veterans. — — Another student, Serah Perry, flat-out told the class it couldn't be done. — — Then they decided to join the effort. — — Now, with one United States senator assisting, neither Stewart nor Perry, both North seniors, think the plan is the least bit crazy. — — It's a very realistic thing to do, and we are going to do it, Melissa insists. — — The two are among 20 or so North seniors determined to rename the full length of Interstate 5, across California, Oregon and Washington. — — The new name: Interstate 5 World War II Memorial Freeway. — — Already, Melissa imagines folks making up a shortened nickname: They'll say `the W W Two Freeway.' — — The students' idea is to honor war history and provide a public forum for that history. Eventually, freeway rest stops could include maps and video presentations about decisive battles, strategy, technology and other aspects of the war. — — The idea evolved shortly before Thanksgiving. As the millennium was drawing to a close, class discussion turned to significant events, turning points in history. At the same time came news of a World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. — — We wanted to create a memorial on the West Coast, says senior Andrew Scott. — — The students are enrolled together in a special program of small classes that approach learning through projects and activities. — — What I want them to do is to do something real, says teacher Jason Weinberg. This is not adults telling kids what to do. The students are doing this. — — Students began by creating an outline of the plan. They adopted as a logo a 3-cent postage stamp with an engraving of the Iwo Jima Memorial -- U.S. Marines straining to plant the American flag on high ground. — — They wrote to Sen. Gordon Smith, seeking his support. — — During Christmas break, Smith wrote back, telling students that he forwarded their request to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Smith promised to report again to students as soon as he receives the department's recommendations. — — On Friday, Perry printed up petition forms. She figures that if the class can show public support for the memorial, the project might progress faster. — — Students acknowledge that the highway dedication might not happen before they graduate, but they're willing to at least get the campaign going for classes to come. — — Weinberg said the lessons for the class are in organizing, campaigning, writing, public speaking, and finding out where to go and who to ask. — — As for the fate of the memorial itself, he says, Whatever happens, this has all been good learning. By VICKI GUARINO MailTribune.com By VICKI GUARINO Posted Jan. 10, 2000 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 2:42 AM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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