On Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day, 10 students from Crossroads Christian School read the names of
96 Santa Marians who
had served overseas and made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of peace
and freedom.
These same students have been committed to maintaining the memorial to Santa Maria’s fallen heroes for a year and a half.
The school is trying to foster remembrance and respect for history and veterans, an ideal that prompted the students’ maintenance at the Abel Maldonado Youth Center. For one student, however, the memorial is more than a plaque—and maintaining it is much more than a service to his community. His brother, a Marine, has his name engraved there.
“Community service is a regular part of our school,” said Sue Pruitt, administrator at Crossroads. “For 15 years, we have provided community service throughout, since we are teaching the kids that being a Christian means you have to put your faith into action.”
Intern Henry Houston compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com..com.
This article appears in Dec 10-17, 2009.