'Soldiers' Stories' come to 'Live From the Newsroom'

Just call them 'Soldiers' Stories.'

Last night we used out 'Live From the Newsroom' show to profile one of the best aspects of the county's newest landmark, the Delaware County Veterans Memorial.

That is where you will find the name of every man and woman who gave their life in service to their country.

It is hallowed ground, carved out of a parcel along busy West Chester Pike in Newtown.

But because of the work of the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Education Committee, we're learning more about the lives behind those names.

Call it living history.

Under the auspices of Education Committee Chairman Linda Houldin, a longtime Newtown supervisor and key figure at the Delaware County Historical Society, each of the names on the memorial is being researched and profiled.

Last night I got a chance to meet some of the people involved in this project.

If you missed the show, you can catch the replay here.

Houldin reached out to Professor Robert Kodosky, who specializes in military history classes at West Chester University. Together they enlisted students to tell the stories of these Delaware County heroes.

One of his graduates, Gabby Weiss, of Radnor, told us about her experience in working on the project.

And it's not just college students who are learning about the men and women from Delaware County who so ably served when called. The Education Committee has a curriculum for kids in grades K-12.

Marisa Sankey, a home schooler from Morton, was so moved by her experience with the project that she penned an emotional poem dedicated to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. You can see her recite it on the video.

Karen Confer, the education coordinator for the Delaware County Historical Society, told us how this program is quickly spreading through schools across the county.

Maybe the best thing about this project is that, once completed, the soldiers' stories are being archived by the Delaware County Historical Society.

So far Kodosky's classes have told the stories of 30 soldiers. His next class will pick up the ball in the spring.

If you haven't been there, I highly recommend a visit. The memorial is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Telling the story of our true Delaware County heroes.

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