Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations in the Wausau area have a tough assignment at D.C. Everest Junior high every year. They help judge hundreds of projects eighth-graders do for their social studies classes.
Among presentations on gender and racial equality are projects on military battles, a piece of history many of the veterans are a part of.
"Being a veterans group, we're always interested in the military," VFW member Ernie Gauerke said. "We're interested in people knowing what our veterans went through."
Members of the VFW say it's especially gratifying seeing students taking a lesson from past wars.
"Hopefully they'll learn from history that our generation, and past generations have made mistakes," VFW member David Marquardt said. "Try to learn from it. Try to learn to solve problems without going to war if they can."
Students with the top projects get a framed certificate, but more importantly, are the history lessons they take with them.
