Fall in: Davis High School seeking former students who served in military

KAYSVILLE — Davis High School opened its door in 1914 — the same year the first shots of World War I were fired.

Since then, the Kaysville school has graduated tens of thousands of students — including many who have worn their country's uniform in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Now a group of student government leaders are hoping to honor their fellow "Davis Darts" who served by installing a military memorial wall inscribed with the names of all alumni who have served — or are currently serving — in the military.

Flint Nielsen is Davis High's sophomore class president and is part of the student team organizing the military wall project.

Honoring Davis High's alumni veterans with a permanent tribute wall inside the school, he said, "can help unite our community and increase our school pride."

Nielsen and his fellow students are grateful for the sacrifices of all who choose to serve. "I don't think veterans get enough recognition — so honoring them for what they do for us is absolutely worthwhile."

The military memorial wall will stand as a visible symbol of that gratitude.

Principal Lori Hawthorne said Davis High School is proud of its rich military legacy, noting that the school was recently recognized as a Purple Star School — a national honor awarded to educational institutions "that go the extra mile to provide smooth transitions for military families."

Choosing to serve in the military is not an easy decision, added Hawthorne, "so we try very hard to recognize our graduates who have made the choice and commitment to serve their country."

Recognizing alumni who protect and serve

One of Nielsen's classmates, senior Bronco Maxfield, helped develop the military memorial wall project. His research revealed that only a few high schools in the country had permanent tributes to their graduates serving the military.

All agreed that having a permanent, physical reminder of those who have served in the military "would help us recognize all the good that graduates of Davis High are doing for the country by serving in the military and protecting us," said Nielsen.

A student-organized fundraiser before Christmas secured about $10,000 for the Davis High military wall project. Donations came from students and their families, along with local businesses in the community.

Construction plans are to remove a section of lockers inside Davis High and install a wall made of stone and wooden materials. Some of the school's advanced woodworking students are expected to assist with the fabricating.

Nielsen estimates the military memorial wall will be at least 10 feet long and at least 6- or 7-feet high.

Once the wall is completed, they can begin engraving the names of military veterans who graduated from Davis. Names will be added when future graduates join the military.

'Mustering' Davis High's military veterans

Identifying which Davis High alumni should be included on the military memorial wall remains perhaps the most daunting challenge facing Nielsen and other students if they hope to finish the project by the end of the school year.

After all, Davis High was opened over a century ago. Legions have graduated from what is one of Utah's oldest high schools — and a sizable number of alumni have served in the military, particularly during periods of war and the draft years.

Nielsen said he and others working on the project plan to scour stacks of Davis High yearbooks and compare them with military records to pinpoint names.

But most of the identifying will likely have to come from the community. A QR code and webpage have been activated where people can submit the names of relatives or friends who graduated from Davis and then served in the military.

Nielsen said he and fellow students also want to post flyers with the QR code in local businesses and set up student-manned tables outside of area grocery stores to promote awareness of the military wall project.

"We need to involve people in the community and get their help, because we're not going to be able to get all of these names on our own," he added.

Nielsen said the ongoing project has helped deepen his own appreciation for those who serve. He doesn't know if military service is part of his future, "but it's definitely not something I would rule out."

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