me arts ed

Leaving Today

Under the direction of teacher Benjamin Speed, six students from the Media Communications program at the Hancock County Technical Center will collect video, audio and photographs for the non-profit group Wreaths Across America from Columbia Falls. They leave today, Sunday, on their one-week trip to Arlington National Cemetery to lay wreaths on headstones and visit other locations along the way. Students will join veterans, gold star families, volunteers and organizers in the police-escorted caravan that will be delivering the wreaths. The group will stop at schools, monuments and veterans facilities along the way.

Each day students will be posting interviews, daily recaps and helmet-cam video clips to their program You Tube channel, “Media Island” at https://www.youtube.com/user/HCTCMediaIsland. Students will also be posting photographs to their program Flickr page, “Media Island” at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mediaisland/. Posts will also be available via the program’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/HCTC-Media-Communications/162794347066088.

Media Communications students shared their plans with 3rd, 5th and 7th graders from the Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School. Those students will engage in curriculum provided by Wreaths Across America, facilitated by their classroom teachers, while also following the Media students progress in real time via the various social media sites and the Wreaths Across America live radio stream. Following the trip, students will recap their trip with the elementary and middle school students.

At the end of the trip Wreaths Across America will have a library of media to use for their organization, which will help them meet their mission of servicing veterans and veterans families. The students will gain professional training in the media field, while also learning more about the history of their nation and those that have served in the United States Armed Services and the families that honor them. The trip will provide a valid resume piece for students portfolios, but will also leave a mark on their lives on a personal and emotional level. The group’s travel costs are sponsored by Wreaths of America. The equipment necessary to embark on the trip is supported by the generosity of Dave and Sandy Perloff through their Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund.

Maine’s First Lady Ann M. LePage will be among the dozens of volunteers in the caravan of eight wreath-filled tractor trailer trucks, Patriot Guard Riders motorcycles and Maine State Police cruisers when it departs Maine on Monday bound for Arlington National Cemetery.

The Hancock County Technical Center and the Media Communications program would like to thank all those involved in helping this project happen, especially to Wreaths Across America. It is an honor to be involved with such a great cause and service to veterans and their families.

Wreaths Across America, based out of Columbia Falls, Maine has a mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach, which is carried out in part by the wreath laying ceremony in December at Arlington, as well as veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. This week of events is made possible by thousands of volunteers who organize local ceremonies, raise funds to sponsor wreaths, and participate in the events. Wreaths Across America receives no government funding. The cost of their programs is paid by individual wreaths sponsors, corporate donors and volunteer truckers. The group also coordinates veteran services and recognition through a variety of programs, and provide schools with teaching aides for projects throughout the year.

Hancock County Technical Center (HCTC) is a Career and Technical High School for various high schools that has a mission of engaging students with rigorous and relevant career and technical education for success in the post- secondary and industrial world. Besides Media Communications, HCTC offers a variety of hands-on educational opportunities in such fields as Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Culinary Arts, Diesel/Heavy Equipment, Early Childhood Education, Health Sciences, Law Enforcement, and Welding.