Angell Students Remember Fallen Soldiers for Memorial Day

For the past several years, students at Angell Elementary School have been creating dog tags to remember fallen soldiers on Memorial Day. The students learn that while it would be hard to remember and honor all of the soldiers lost in the course of our country’s history, it is possible to remember one. If each of them remembers one, then together they remember many. 

The program was started years ago by long-time Berkley Schools teacher Chris Kuhl. When Mrs. Kuhl retired in 2022, Gale Tosto, fifth grade teacher at Angell, continued the tradition. Each May, Mrs. Tosto spends hours gathering data, printing information and cutting accessories and ribbon so that each student and staff member receives a different soldier to honor. 

Each dog tag includes the soldier's picture, their date of birth, the date they died, how old they were and the circumstances around their death, their hometown and which part of the Armed Forces they served in.  

In addition to the Dog Tag, three paper cut out symbols are included to add to the ribbon: a heart, star and anchor. The heart represents the soldiers’ compassion, joy, and charity and love for their country. The star represents life and guidance. The anchor represents a symbol of hope of a promise for tomorrow.

After assembling and learning about the dog tags and their meaning, students hold their tag in their hand as they perform a civilian salute: crossing their hand over their heart. Students are encouraged to bring their soldiers with them during Memorial Day weekend.