Magnet School Seeks To Recognize Servicemembers With Poster

Students at Forest Park Magnet School are looking for a few good men - and women - to honor.

Part of Longview Independent School District, the middle school is designing a poster featuring active military service members. The poster has room to feature 80 service members from the Longview area, said principal Margaret Davis. If the school receives more than 80 photos, a second poster design will be considered.

A mock-up of the poster featured three servicemembers, each related to school faculty members.

The posters will be sold to businesses, and any profits will be divided between school programs and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Davis said. The movie posters will be a tribute to people serving the country as well as be "a reminder of those who have served in the past," she said.

The poster project is one of the school's community and service projects for the spring semester. Davis said the school has four major community projects each year. Previous projects have included providing Thanksgiving dinners to families in need, purchasing Christmas gifts for low-income children and raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Fourteen-year-old Desiree Moon, an eighth-grader at Forest Park, said the posters and photos will show gratitude for those in the military. Moon has an uncle serving overseas as part of a reserve unit, but she is not sure where or what branch of service he is in.

She said she is "sort of scared" for her uncle's safety, but she is proud of his service to his country.

"The posters show we are thankful for our soldiers," Moon said. "They're unselfish."

Another 14-year-old eighth-grader, Israel Madrid, said the posters will raise awareness of the numerous people in the community serving their country. He said recognition and honor is a way to pay them back from risking their lives.

"It shows we care for our soldiers who are out there," Madrid said.

March 26, 2008