Watertown, CT students help build the National WWI Memorial

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission

We recently received a wonderful letter from the parents of two students of St. John the Evangelist High School, in Watertown, CT. The students, Taylor Gibbs and Lyvia Bartoli, brought our Centennial Commission's Poppy Seed Fundraising Program to their school, to help raise awareness for our World War I veterans, and to help raise money for the new National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, DC, and for their own school's charity efforts.

Through their efforts with the Poppy Seed Program, they grew in awareness of the contributions of the men & women who served in World War I, and the two students decided to donate the money they raised directly to our National World War I Memorial. 

We have been truly touched by this generous gesture, so we wanted to share their parents' letter with you all, along with our sincerest expression of thanks to these young people.