Community efforts to build a local memorial to Michigan military men and women lost in Iraq is off to a good start.
A bake sale organized in about two weeks by Clarkston area parents and students raised more than $4,000, half of the $8,000 needed.
Clarkston Junior High School students Ali Olsen-Beever, Ashley Richardson, Brad Stencil, Andrew Stencil, Corey Ploss, Zach Smith, and Chapin White thought of the idea as a community service project for history class.
‘We wanted to help with a memorial for people who died, so they would be remembered? Richardson said.
Their idea ? a bake sale in downtown Clarkston.
‘People have been really helpful,? Olsen-Beever said.
‘We don’t want the soldiers to be forgotten,? Smith said.
‘I thought it would be a good thing for the community to honor fallen soldiers and their families,? White said.
The fundraiser benefits Lest They Be Forgotten, formed by Michigan parents who lost their children in the War on Terror. The group’s goal is to build a memorial in all their hometowns.
White’s father Chuck White was asked by the group’s leader, Skip Bushart, if he could write a song to honor them.
‘He knew that Chuck had recently wrote and had a song produced in Nashville for local Lake Orion marine, Raymond Plouhar,? said Nikki White, Chuck’s wife and Chapin’s mother.
‘After collaborating with his friend, Morgan Cryar, they have produced a song entitled ‘That’s Just What You Do? that will be used to raise money for Lest They Be Forgotten memorials.?
Copies of the song were sold to benefit the fundraiser.
‘It was a good fit,? said Chuck, who records as a hobby and usually puts his songs on the Internet for free downloads.
‘I felt I had to do something to let people know how real this war is.?
Residents and businesses provided baked goods, posted signs, and provided sidewalk space for the sale.
‘It’s so nice to see the response of everyone in the community,? Nikki said.
‘It breaks my heart to see all those young men and a woman there (on a poster honoring Michigan troops killed in Iraq). We need to support them.
‘Regardless of one’s political affliation or feelings about the war in Iraq, the cause to honor our brave men and women who have served is a cause that unites us all.?
At least two parents of veterans killed in Iraq attended the fundraiser.
‘I think this is great ? this is all about our kids who gave their lives,? said John Dearing of Hazel Park, father of Army PFC John Dearing.
The younger Dearing was killed Nov. 21, 2005, in Habbaniyah, Iraq.
‘We can’t forget them,? said Ray Plouhar of Lake Orion, father of Marine SSG Ray Plouhar, killed June 26, 2006, in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
‘Anything like this is worthwhile. It’s good to see the kids get involved.?
For more information or to make a donation to The Fallen Heroes Memorial Foundation, check its Web site at www.michigansoldiers.org. For information on Chuck White’s music, check www.Chuck WhiteMusic.com.

Fifth graders at Davisburg Elementary marched to Davisburg Cemetery, Nov. 11, for their Veterans Day observance.
Teachers Stephanie Creasey and Julianne Strong organized the annual trip with Springfield Township Clerk Laura Moreau. The students walk to the cemetery in a silent, single file line holding flags, which they place in holders at each veteran’s grave, Creasey said.
“As we place a flag, we read the name out loud and say thank you for your service,” she said.
After the flag placement, students completed a scavenger hunt, gathering information about veterans from every war from the Revolution through Vietnam. They also made careful rubbings of veterans? headstones.