Dear Editor,

As a 1971 graduate of Wawasee High School and a graduate of Milford Elementary School, I am thrilled to see the Wawasee School Corp. is going to build a brand-new elementary school in Milford. I have seen the renderings of the new complex and without a doubt it will be state of the art.

With the new state-of-the-art building, I think we have an opportunity to make our new school a national landmark. As many people know, we have a Congressional Medal of Honor winner who came from Milford. Harry J Michael is in fact the only Medal of Honor winner in the history of Kosciusko County. Imagine Harry J Michael Elementary School — every day our young people would see a bust of Harry, a display of his medals and his story in print and pictures. Teachers will be able to tell Harry’s story and our students will learn about sacrifice for others, teamwork, love of country, bravery, hard work and so much more. Harry was a three-sport athlete at Milford High School. He went on to Purdue University and became part of the ROTC program before going to war for his country. As a matter of fact, an entire floor in a building on the Purdue campus is named after Harry J Michael Medal of Honor winner.

The bottom line is the United States of America bestowed its highest honor on a young man from Milford who gave his life for his country. Another great thing is we have a board policy that states, “From time to time, the School Board may wish to commemorate a school or Corporation facility (gymnasium, swimming pool, athletic field, etc.) by means of a plaque, naming the facility after a person, or some other honor. Such commemoration should be reserved only for those individuals who have made a significant contribution to the enhancement of education generally or the Corporation in particular or to the well-being of the Corporation, community, State or nation.” (article 7250 Wawasee School Board Policy)

Congratulations to our school board and Dr. Troyer and his staff on the building of this beautiful new school. You now have an opportunity to make our new elementary a national landmark that will impact many generations to come and to make good on the promise we make to our American heroes: “We will never forget.”

Dave Baumgartner
1971 Graduate of Wawasee High School