Hawthorne High School’s Library Media Center is commemorating Military Family Appreciation Month through a Wall of Honor, which presents the pictures and information of military members, showing respect for the people who serve this country, and allowing the family of these military members to display their support and pride in our heroes.

Library Media Center Specialist Theresa DiGeronimo decided to create the Wall of Honor in recognition of Veteran’s Day and Military Family Appreciation Month, bringing students and faculty alike to display their family in the military. Students and staff in HHS who have family members in the military can pick up a form to fill out, bring in a picture of their family member or themself in the military, and hand them both in to DiGeronimo, who will post the information and a picture on the Wall of Honor.

As a military family member, both DiGeronimo’s father and son were in the Navy. “I am extremely proud to be a part of a military family. Because of [my son’s] experiences, I now better understand the personal sacrifices made by those who choose to serve this country,” DiGeronimo disclosed.

HHS senior Aislinn Ellerbrook, who posted her grandfather’s profile on the wall, said, “My grandpa passed away when I was really young, and my parents told me stories about him in the service. I wanted to honor him and show how proud I am.”

On November 1, 2013, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation marking November as the month of Military Family Appreciation. According to him, “[Military families] serve with heroism in their homes and neighborhoods while they are without the comfort of having loved ones nearby. I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our Nation.”