WWI memorial headed to Mount Albion Cemetery
Provided photo: American Legion Sheret Post #35 Commander Wally Skrypnik is pictured with a large bronze plaque memorializing 24 area soldiers who died during World War I. Skrypnik is pictured with Albion seventh graders Leah Pritchard, center, and Emily Harling. The seventh grade service learning class is working on having the memorial placed at Mount Albion Cemetery.
Albion Middle School seventh grade Service Learning students have received a valuable World War I memorial plaque and they need some help to display it in the community for others to enjoy.
American Legion Sheret Post #35 donated the large 3-by-5-foot bronze plaque memorializing 24 WWI soldiers from Albion, Barre, Carlton and Gaines. The plaque has been displayed in various indoor locations, but was most recently in storage, not visible to the public.
After being impressed by the students work last year on area Civil War soldiers, the local American Legion Post felt it fitting to donate the plaque to the hard-working students as the 100th anniversary of the United States entrance into WW I approaches next year.
“I know they will do a respectful and fitting job of displaying the plaque,” Legion Commander Wally Skrypnik said. “We trust them with this important piece of local history and I think they will learn a lot as they study this significant time period.”
The Village of Albion gave approval on Wednesday to the student group to display the plaque at Mt. Albion Cemetery. Mayor Dean London thanked Tim Archer, the service learning teacher, and seventh-graders for their projects at Mount Albion and in the community. Last year students worked on several projects for Civil War soldiers in Albion.
Archer said the bronze plaque weighs about 200 pounds. He would like to attach it to a large stone or boulder that would set in the cemetery. He thinks someone in the community might have a suitable stone that could be used to display the marker.
“We need the community’s help,” Archer said. “We are searching for a way to display this special artifact – maybe on a large boulder or slab. This plaque, recognizing the two dozen local heroes who gave their lives in service to their country, deserves a permanent, fitting home at Mt. Albion. I know there is just the right stone out there.”
In addition Archer’s classes will be studying the names listed on the plaque over the course of the school year.
“Our kids will learn a great deal about courage, integrity, and self-sacrifice,” Archer said. “There is no greater example of ‘loving thy neighbor’ than laying down your life for another. We all need role models like this.”
Those listed on the plaque include: John D. Arnett, Albert Beary, Jesse S. Brooks, John A. Butler, Leo. F. Christopher, Oliver E. Clement, Ronald F. Corey, Robert B. Densmore, Harry H. Dibley, Frederick Green, John Kurzawski, Martin Larwood, Louis Monacelli, Dewey Mott, Benjamin A. Needles, Leonard Osborne, Adolfo Passarelli, Stanley Rutkowski, James A. Sheret, Egbert Sheret, John H. Stevens, Alexander Wilson, and Stanley P. Zyglarski.
Anyone with information and/or pictures of any of the twenty-four names listed on the plaque, or an adequate size stone, can contact Archer at the Middle School at 589-2020 or via email at tarcher@albionk12.org. Donations to the project are also welcome and appreciated. For their part, students are collecting redeemable bottles and cans for the effort.
