By LAURA HAMMACK, guest columnist
Readers of this column may remember the piece I wrote regarding the incredible honor earned by Brown County High School social studies teacher Emily Lewellen.
Mrs. Lewellen was selected by the National History Day program as one of only 16 teachers from across the United States to memorialize a “silent hero” from World War I. She chose Pvt. Ray Griffin, a Brown County resident, who died in battle while serving our country in 1918. In coordination with the Memorializing the Fallen project, Mrs. Lewellen prepared and offered a eulogy at the gravesite of Pvt. Griffin in Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in France.
Who would have guessed that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity experienced by Mrs. Lewellen would be replicated once again in Brown County?
Incredibly, Mrs. Lewellen was again selected to participate in special programming sponsored by National History Day. This time, she was given the opportunity to chaperone a Brown County High School student who was responsible for selecting her own “silent hero,” this time from World War II. Just as Mrs. Lewellen did in France, this student would prepare and offer a eulogy at the gravesite of “their” fallen solider. This time, the eulogy was offered in The Netherlands American Cemetery.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Brown County High School senior Chloee Robison was selected for this experience because of her deep commitment to history evidenced by years of nationals-qualifying National History Day projects.
I had the opportunity to interview Chloee recently about the experience in The Netherlands and was genuinely touched by the way in which the experience grew her appreciation for and understanding of World War II.
“The trip of a lifetime.” Chloee lights up when asked to talk about the experience of traveling with her teacher, Mrs. Lewellen, and meeting 10 students and their teachers who were selected from across the country to participate in this program. “I love learning about history, but what I experienced is so much more than what a textbook provides.”
As a part of their experience in The Netherlands the students visited the Anne Frank House, the Wings of Liberation Museum, the Freedom Museum, and the city of Nijmegen, where they participated in the Sunset March. The Sunset March takes place every day, rain or shine, where at least one veteran marches across the bridge in silence while lighting up 48 lights to honor the 48 lives that were lost during liberation of that city in 1944.
The students and their teachers were also tasked with placing location vectors at a variety of points of interest along the historic Liberation Route Europe. This was a very special experience, as this team was the first to place what will ultimately be hundreds of place vectors along a 2,000-mile trail that will cross six countries, highlighting the liberation of Europe during WWII.
Mrs. Lewellen and Chloee were both deeply touched by the strong connection that the Dutch feel toward the United States.
The capstone of the experience was a visit to The Netherlands American Cemetery where the students offered their eulogies to “their” fallen hero. “I didn’t expect it to be so emotional,” Chloee reflected.
Chloee and Mrs. Lewellen spent hours researching her fallen hero, Pvt. Claude Eugene Doty. The hours of research translated into Chloee developing an affection for her hero that felt like “family.”
At his gravesite, Chloee was tasked with rubbing sand into Pvt. Doty’s gravestone so his name was illuminated. It was during that act of reverence that she was overcome with the realization that “he gave his life for me, for us.”
Chloee said, “I practiced his eulogy over and over because I wanted it to be perfect for him.”
I had the opportunity to read Chloee’s eulogy of Pvt. Doty, and can assure you it was, indeed, perfect.
I learned Pvt. Doty completed his 10th grade year at Center Grove High School and went to work in industry, where he contributed to the war effort by manufacturing war related materials. He was drafted by the Army in the summer of 1944 and ultimately served with the 29th Infantry Division, 116th Infantry Regiment as a member of the Cannon Company.
His division is known to have endured some of the most horrific living conditions of any during the war. There, he fought bravely and was tragically hit, along with three other men, by enemy artillery on Nov. 20, 1944.
Pvt. Doty left behind his parents, siblings, wife and a 1-year-old son.
Chloee reflected, “He’s part of my life now.”
If the moment weren’t special enough, Mrs. Lewellen and Chloee were treated with meeting Pvt. Doty’s grave “adopter,” Dennis de Munck. Incredibly, all of the graves and names on the wall of the missing at The Netherlands American Cemetery are adopted by Dutch families, who visit and place flowers on the graves multiple times a year. Dennis travels over two hours to visit Pvt. Doty, and has adopted a number of graves of men in the 29th Division. Incredibly, he not only takes care of the graves, but he also researches these men’s lives in depth to make sure that their legacy lives on.
This experience is one for which the entirety of Brown County should be proud. Mrs. Lewellen and Chloee were selected for this experience as one of just 10 teacher-student partnerships from across the nation. They conducted a vast amount of research to ensure the eulogy that was offered was accurate, respectful, and honored the brave Hoosier soldier who gave his life for our country.
We are deeply grateful to the National History Day program for providing this incredible experience, and it’s timely that it happens to be National History Day competition “season.” I’m looking so forward to the projects that surround this year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers in History.” I will be sure to report on this year’s success soon.
Laura Hammack is superintendent of Brown County schools. She can be reached at 812-988-6601 or [email protected].
