Effort to honor veterans sparks project at Washington County Career Center
Cian Deshaw works on a bracket for the Military Tribute Banner Project at Washington County Career Center on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
The students from the Washington County Career Center’s Welding Program display their work for the Military Tribute Banner Project on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Cian Deshaw works on a bracket for the Military Tribute Banner Project at Washington County Career Center on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
The students from the Washington County Career Center’s Welding Program display their work for the Military Tribute Banner Project on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Trending
MARIETTA -- A project at the Washington County Career Center honors past and present military veterans while also providing valuable hands-on experience for students in the welding program.
The Military Tribute Banner Project plans to place banners across New Matamoras to recognize the service of veterans and has found a cost-saving solution through the skill and dedication of welding students at the Career Center.
To mitigate expenses, students from the Career Center have stepped in to manufacture the brackets themselves, offering a real-world application of their welding skills while making the project more affordable for the community.
"The brackets for these banners are a little expensive, with the students here at the school, I thought it'd be a good, real life project for them to give them some experience and then it will help bring the cost down of our military banners." said Sam Howard, one of the instructors for the welding program at Career Center. "The banners are $125 and if we had to buy the brackets, it was going to be up around $175 so it's quite a savings for this program."
The students are using aluminum TIG welding, which Howard stated is a technique they don't often get the opportunity to practice extensively. This initiative provides them with valuable experience while contributing to a cause that resonates deeply with many families in the region. Howard stated that school administration has been fully supportive, recognizing the dual benefits of community service and skill development. The project has also received generous material donations from various local businesses. Metal Tech Steel provided aluminum, West Virginia Electric donated aluminum collars, and the Lowe's supplied fittings and PVC pipes, which according to Howard, was essential for the project.
Families and community members with ties to New Matamoras can purchase a tribute banner to recognize their loved ones who served at militarytributebanners.org. Additionally, the banner company is providing free banners for veterans who were killed in action from Vietnam to the present.
An in-person registration event will also be held at the Masonic Lodge Hall in New Matamoras on March 15 from noon until 2 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a photograph of the veteran in uniform along with their service details.
Community members who wish to support the initiative can make monetary donations at Peoples Savings Bank in New Matamoras. Contributions should be designated for the Military Tribute Banner Program, ensuring that all funds directly support the effort to recognize and honor local veterans.
The Washington County Career Center has 23 programs available for adults and 15 high school programs. Some programs include welding, HVAC and Refrigeration, State Tested Nursing, Masonry and Industrial Maintenance Mechanic. For more information on the available programs go to www.thecareercenter.net.