Antioch District 34 to add first round of names to Military Wall of Honor

Antioch District 34 will add 35 names of alumni currently serving or who previously served in the U.S. military to their new Military Wall of Honor in a ceremony at Antioch Upper Grade School (AUGS) on Tuesday, according to a district news release.

The wall was unveiled on Veterans Day and it includes a section for each military branch.

Many community leaders and members will attend the ceremony, including local veterans, students, government officials, school board members, and district administrators and staff.

“Our Military Wall of Honor provides heartfelt recognition of the bravery and sacrifice of our service members,” AUGS Principal Joe Koeune said in the news release. “Our students and staff are proud to build this bridge of appreciation for those who have served for the greater good of our nation.”

Superintendent Aron Borowiak said Maria Treto-French, assistant superintendent, Cuauhtémoc Mendez, operations and maintenance manager, and Koeune helped bring the idea to fruition quickly once it was proposed last spring. They chose a wall outside the library and began construction, according to the news release.

The AUGS choir and seventh- and eighth-grade band members will perform during the ceremony followed by a brief reception.

New names will be added to the wall annually during the AUGS Veterans Day reception.

“Most veterans go years without a place to call home, as they generally leave their roots to travel the world,” said Steve Gibson, an AUGS science teacher and veteran. “This wall gives a place to honor their legacy and the sacrifices made for their country.”