Mona Shores School Visit – 2018
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon on June 16, 2018 in Washington DC, 135 students and many chaperones from Mona Shores Middle School in Michigan met at Arlington Cemetery with me and my wife Wendi. This was the eleventh consecutive year that Eric Wahlberg and the Mona Shores staff conducted this special visit. Eric Wahlberg, a teacher at Mona Shores, arranged for the get together. Its so encouraging to see more and more students make the visit each year.
Everyone gathered near Eric’s gravesite to meet each other and listen to Eric’s dad (myself) speak about Eric to the students. Unfortunately I forgot to bring the single page handout for each student of a fallen hero that was buried in section 60, along with their biography and portrait image like I did the previous year – I’ll have to plan for the visit a little better the next year as Eric shared it would be his last time accompanying the students.
Like previous years, I shared about Eric growing up and how he became such a selfless young man but also he was more ordinary than most of the students might have thought. I wanted them to know that they didn’t have to be a superstar to make a difference in this world. As was the case the previous years, the afternoon was a very profound and emotional experience. I am grateful to my wife Wendi also for making the day a great experience. She was thoughtful enough to have recommended we have water for each of the students as she usually does.
Most of the time was spent talking about Eric, the type of person he was and kind of impact he was having even though his time with us is over. The letters the Mona Shore students had written to Eric were very touching and heartwarming. Several students read their letters out loud. Later, I read each letter the students had written – there were close to 200!
Included below is a very small sample of the students letters as well as some of the pictures.
To the Mona Shores students, chaperones and to Eric Wahlberg, on behalf of our son Eric and his family, we want to say thank you for honoring him in this way. You have given us a precious gift by learning about Eric and his life. You are a blessing to us and we are proud to call you our friends. We look forward to seeing you every year.
Student Letters to Eric
Mona Shores student Donovan
Mona Shores student Emily Kuznar
Mona Shores student Justin Overley
Mona Shores student Grace Opsommer
Mona Shores student Lauren Davis
Mona Shores student Olivia Hunt
Mona Shores student Samantha Sewick
Mona Shores student Sophia Fisher
Mona Shores student Xander Jewell
Mona Shores student Zachary Schnotala
Unknown Mona Shores student
