May 27 – Logansport High School officially unveiled its new Military Wall of Honor on Memorial Day, with a large crowd in attendance to honor the graduates who had served their country.
“On this Memorial Day, we remember and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed in service to our country,” Executive Director Matt Jones said at the start of the ceremony. “Their courage and selflessness are the foundation of our freedoms and values. This Military Wall of Honor symbolizes our appreciation and a lasting testament to the courage and dedication of those who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces.”
The wall’s origins date back to Jan. 25, 2023, when the class of 1964 graduated and Army Green Beret (1966-69) Lenny Corso messaged Jones on Facebook and told him how Valparaiso High School honored its veterans.
Support grew quickly within the school corporation and community. One day, an art teacher found a piece of art that Cpl. Humberto Sanchez had made when he was still a student and the teacher went to Jones because he felt that the family wanted those works. When he sent the art to Coral Doolittle, Sanchez’s mother, he also included some promotional information about the wall.
Doolittle recalled visiting the school and when she left, she saw all the trophies on displays and felt sad because there was nothing to honor her son or others who had served.
“My son gave his life for this school and he graduated from this school and there is nothing,” she recalled thinking.
After hearing about the project, Doolittle and her husband later approached Jones about donating money raised in her son’s honor to help build the wall.
“This is very important to me and my family,” she said. “There are more people who are going to sign up and unfortunately we know some won’t come back.”
Corso told a story about the class of 1964 who started the school year having no idea where Vietnam was, and by the time they graduated they were volunteering or drafting.
Corso said there were 160 men in the Logansport class in 1964. As best he and others could verify, he said 85 of the men served.
“The Military Wall of Honor has 667 names recognized today and for many years to come,” he said. “On this Memorial Day, the LHS Class of 1964, along with many other individuals attending or watching on a streaming network, would like to express our appreciation and remember all who served and sacrificed so much for our country.”
Concluding his speech, Corso recognized Jones for his efforts to quickly create the Military Wall of Honor. Corso announced that Jones was honored with the Our Community Salutes Colin Powell Award at the Valparaiso Kiwanis Salute the Recruits event. The award recognized Jones for exceptional service to his students, school and community.
Corso, acting on behalf of the class of 1964, also presented Jones with a plaque honoring him for his dedication and efforts in creating the Military Wall of Honor at the high school.
The event opened with the “Pledge of Allegiance” and the playing of “Taps” by Logansport band director Ned Boyd. John Scott, Service Officer with VFW 3790, and Thomas Schoenradt, commander of American Legion Post 60, also spoke at the ceremony.
Lindsey Miller, who served in the Indiana National Guard, was one of many who had her name on the wall.
“It was really something to see my name in person on the Wall of Honor,” she said earlier this week. “It made me feel more connected to others in the community who were serving. It was fun looking through the names to see which ones I recognized. I especially like finding women on the list because there are so are few compared to men.
Miller said she loved that the school honored those who served their country and hoped the wall would inspire others.
Individuals who have served in various branches, including the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard and National Guard, are eligible for recognition on the wall.
“For our students who walk these halls every day — we have 1,200 students — this wall is more than just a collection of names,” Jones said. “It is an inspiration and a powerful reminder of the virtues of duty, honor and patriotism. May it inspire them to strive for excellence and selflessly serve others and to value the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.”
