Naperville's Jefferson Jr. High students prepare World War I exhibit

The Jefferson Junior High Patriots are taking their mascot to a whole new level.

Eighth-graders are creating a large-scale World War I exhibit at the Naperville school as part of a push for a national memorial dedicated to veterans of the war.

"World War I was kind of a forgotten war and it would be really nice if (people) could support us because we worked really hard on this and would really like to see some changes in Washington, D.C.," eighth-grader Abigail Breckner said.

The exhibit will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the school, 1525 N. Loomis.

Students have partnered with Michigan photographer David DeJonge, who has been documenting World War I veterans since 1996. Only one veteran is still alive today - Frank Buckles of West Virginia who is 108.

DeJonge and Buckles are both part of the World War I Memorial Foundation that is campaigning for a national memorial.

Currently, there is a World War I memorial in the nation's capital but it honors only local veterans. The war killed 116,561 Americans, according to the foundation.

"America turned its back long enough on its World War I veterans and it's time to step up and honor them with the other memorials on the National Mall," DeJonge said.

DeJonge's photographs are currently on display at the Pentagon. But he also has created a replica of the display that is traveling to schools around the country including Jefferson.

Saturday, his work will be accompanied by that of about 100 Naperville eighth-graders.

Jefferson students have spent the past few months making trips to the 1st Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton as well as Naper Settlement and the library researching both World War I and what Naperville was like during that period.

This weekend they will transform their school into a World War I museum, with dozens of projects of their own. They've built a trench, crafted model battlefields, designed posters and prepared music that will all add to the lessons about the war as well as Naperville's history.

Teacher Kim Schatz said the projects have been student-driven, each inspired by an area students are interested in such as types of warfare, women in the war and medical issues during the war.

Gianmarco Duin has been creating a replica of the Battle of Cantigny and says he is fascinated by the strategy and planning involved throughout the war.

"This has really brought to my attention a lot of things that happened in World War I including gases and trench warfare - and the horrible life the soldiers had in the trenches and how much they really risked being in World War I," he said.

DeJonge hopes as education about the war spreads, so will support for a memorial, which would be privately funded. Currently two pieces of legislation are making their way through Congress.

Naperville students and teachers alike said they have enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the movement.

"We're encouraging kids to step up and be active citizens," Schatz said. "By adults supporting this, it makes it real for them and shows them it's important for me to be a good citizen and be active in shaping the direction our nation takes."

<p class=factboxtext12col><b>If you go</b></p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>What:</b> World War I exhibit featuring student projects and photographs by David DeJonge</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>When:</b> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>Where:</b> Jefferson Junior High School, 1525 N. Loomis St., Naperville</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>Info:</b> (630) 420-6363</p>