St. Charles students do Veterans History Project
P-ARTS, a St. Charles arts advocacy group, is participating in the St. Charles Arts Council "Celebrating Veterans Through Art" event and neXt gallery Nov. 7-29. It will feature local veterans sharing their stories in videos produced by members of the Class of 2017 at St. Charles East High School.
Developed and initiated by Megha Nayyar in 2015 as a freshman, and now coordinated by Sydney Aganon, this program is part of the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project.
Eleven videos have been produced, to date. An installation featuring several of these videos can be viewed at St. Charles Art Council's neXt gallery, which opens with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at 11 E. Main St. Visit StCharlesArtsCouncil.org.
"In student council, we work not only for the betterment of our school, but for the betterment of society," says Megha Nayyar.
To fulfill that mission, she knew she wanted to do something for those serving in the military. Her mother is a nurse at Hines Veteran's Hospital, and her family had made blankets for veterans and soldiers deployed overseas.
With the support of St. Charles East Principal Charlie Kyle and student council faculty advisers Neil Currie and Mike Karson, Megha proposed doing the same as a student council project for her class.
The Class of 2017 contributed almost all of their money that year from various fundraising activities to send three care packages overseas to former St. Charles East students in the service. One of the units receiving a care package signed an American flag and sent it to the class in a show of appreciation.
Megha then discovered the Veterans History Project. She proposed the idea to the St. Charles VFW Post 5036. The entire project has been student-initiated, student-directed and student-produced, giving them the opportunity to develop skills in research, interviewing and video production.
The response by local veterans has been enthusiastic, with many eager to tell their stories. St. Charles East junior Sydney Aganon, project team leader, has been coordinating and conducting the video interviews.
"It's been very rewarding to hear the veterans' stories and to give them a voice, especially since I've had family serve in the military," Sydney said.
She also helps train others to interview veterans.
"The Library of Congress field kit is very helpful, and Mr. Karson and Mr. Currie have been great whenever I need guidance."
Participants that have shared their stories include a veteran who fought in the World War II Battle of Anzio, a nuclear sub driver who served in the 1980s, a former army ranger stationed in West Germany in the 1970s, and East High School faculty members and former military Stephanie White and Lynn Zickefoose.
Gary Saylors, a Gulf War veteran married to East High faculty Diann Saylors, and East faculty Michael Volz's son, Alex Volz, who served two tours in Afghanistan, were also interviewed.
The students plan on continuing the project until they graduate in 2017. The videos eventually will be available on the Veterans History Project webpage.
"People for the Arts," or P-ARTS, was formed in 1979 to promote and advocate for the literary, visual and performing arts. Over 36 years, they have provided teacher grants to East's humanities department, funds for the Visiting Artists Program, and scholarships for members. In addition, volunteers have provided financial support for the East Jazz Band to participate in the Essentially Ellington competition in New York and to take a China tour, led the dedication for the black box theater named for Ron and Gretchen Koeppl and more.
The P-ARTS Variety Show March 4 is the major fundraiser. To become a volunteer or donate, contact stcgp@hotmail.com.
"Celebrating Veterans Through Art" inaugural event, which runs Nov. 7-14, features concerts, an art gallery, a public art installation project, veteran interview videos and more. Tickets are on sale for Veteran Honor Show at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Arcada Theatre. It is part concert and part theater, combining music, videos and the spoken word to tell veterans' stories.
Visit StCharlesArtsCouncil.org.