BCS Documentary Earns Trip to D.C.
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Paige, Jaylin, and Chase are eighth-grade students at Lake Forest Middle School in Cleveland, Tennessee. This is their first year participating in National History Day, and they are also the first students from their school to ever do so. They volunteered for this extracurricular activity after being contacted by the Tennessee Holocaust Commission’s executive director and informed of the opportunity to research information about an amazing American soldier whose story perfectly correlates with this year’s NHD theme of “Taking a Stand in History.”
Paige, Jaylin, and Chase chose to produce a documentary for their project. Titled “Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds: Faith, Family, Friends, Freedom,” the 10-minute film was developed as a result of extensive research and examines the rescue efforts of Master Sergeant Edmonds, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II and Korea. As a WWII POW, Edmonds—a non-Jew from East Tennessee—saved the lives of approximately 200 American-Jewish soldiers by leading his fellow POWs to stand up to a German commander and declaring, “We are all Jews.” The project traces his story and the legacy he left behind, while placing the events into historical context. It also seeks to emphasize the importance for everyone to stand up and do what is right, even in difficult circumstances.
In addition to learning about a soldier from their own state, the students have a strong connection to this story for a number of reasons. They all previously participated in a show choir competition where their show focused on remembering the Holocaust. Additionally, Paige, Jaylin, and Chase all have grandparents and /or great-grandparents (and other family members) who have proudly served our country as members of the armed forces. This patriotism is an important part of their National History Day participation.
The students have devoted countless hours to their research and project completion. As a result, we are proud to announce that their documentary won first place at both the regional and state competitions; they are one of only two Tennessee projects in the junior documentary category to advance to the national contest, which will be held on the University of Maryland campus, just outside of Washington, DC, June 11-15, 2017.
Their goal is to raise $5,000 for all three students and their chaperones to attend this prestigious event while proudly representing their school, district, and state. This amount covers the costs of lodging, transportation, meals, and other small incidentals.
Please help Paige, Jaylin, and Chase get to the national contest with your donation! Any support you can give to help reach this goal is much appreciated!!
To learn more about National History Day visit http://nhd.org/
To learn more about Master Sergeant Edmonds visit http://www.roddieedmonds.com/
To learn more about the Tennessee Holocaust Commission visit http://www.tnholcom.org/
Paige, Jaylin, and Chase chose to produce a documentary for their project. Titled “Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds: Faith, Family, Friends, Freedom,” the 10-minute film was developed as a result of extensive research and examines the rescue efforts of Master Sergeant Edmonds, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II and Korea. As a WWII POW, Edmonds—a non-Jew from East Tennessee—saved the lives of approximately 200 American-Jewish soldiers by leading his fellow POWs to stand up to a German commander and declaring, “We are all Jews.” The project traces his story and the legacy he left behind, while placing the events into historical context. It also seeks to emphasize the importance for everyone to stand up and do what is right, even in difficult circumstances.
In addition to learning about a soldier from their own state, the students have a strong connection to this story for a number of reasons. They all previously participated in a show choir competition where their show focused on remembering the Holocaust. Additionally, Paige, Jaylin, and Chase all have grandparents and /or great-grandparents (and other family members) who have proudly served our country as members of the armed forces. This patriotism is an important part of their National History Day participation.
The students have devoted countless hours to their research and project completion. As a result, we are proud to announce that their documentary won first place at both the regional and state competitions; they are one of only two Tennessee projects in the junior documentary category to advance to the national contest, which will be held on the University of Maryland campus, just outside of Washington, DC, June 11-15, 2017.
Their goal is to raise $5,000 for all three students and their chaperones to attend this prestigious event while proudly representing their school, district, and state. This amount covers the costs of lodging, transportation, meals, and other small incidentals.
Please help Paige, Jaylin, and Chase get to the national contest with your donation! Any support you can give to help reach this goal is much appreciated!!
To learn more about National History Day visit http://nhd.org/
To learn more about Master Sergeant Edmonds visit http://www.roddieedmonds.com/
To learn more about the Tennessee Holocaust Commission visit http://www.tnholcom.org/
Organizer and beneficiary
Christy Rose Viviano
Organizer
Cleveland, TN
Julie Mitchell
Beneficiary
