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Students from Sallisaw Central Public School gather around Iraqi War veteran Jeff Hudgens.

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Students from Central Public School in Sallisaw recently visited Tahlequah resident and Iraqi War veteran Jeff Hudgens as part of a Cherokee Nation service-learning project that honors the military.

“Service learning is a method of instruction that combines students and adults in addressing a community need,” said Donna Gourd, Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve manager. “It employs a dynamic process that includes preparation, action, reflection and celebration.”

Sallisaw Central students chose to follow Hudgens’ military career after their Learn and Serve project coordinator, Cheryl Riggs, became acquainted with him during a Marine Educators Tour in San Diego, Calif. Hudgens was in boot camp at the time, and they soon learned that they had something in common besides just being from Oklahoma, a close friend of Riggs is Hudgens’ cousin.

Since that time, Riggs’ students have closely followed Hudgens’ military career, including his return home following injuries sustained from a bomb explosion in November 2004.

Riggs said having students meet and talk with Hudgens about his experience was part of the learning associated with the Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve project.

“These students have been writing soldiers, sending care packages, visiting older war veterans in nursing homes and collecting names of veterans to be placed on a memorial at the school,” Riggs said. “They were curious about Jeff’s experience because they had heard me talk about it, and they wanted to personally deliver the get-well cards and letters they had made him, so we decided to include the visit as a part of their learning.”

Hudgens answered questions, told stories and was treated to an a cappella version of “(When No One Else is There) I’ll Be,” by Catie Jo Russell, an eighth grade student at Sallisaw Central.

After visiting with Hudgens at his home in Tahlequah, Riggs and the students met with Gourd to talk about the morning.

“Reflection is an important part of service-learning,” Gourd said. “It is a time for students to consider their thoughts and feelings about the activities they are involved in when they do service.”

One student said she felt sad and happy at the same time. She said she was surprised at how well Hudgens was doing and that he had such a positive mind. Another student said we should honor our military because a time may come when we need soldiers and no one will want to serve because they have not been appreciated. Nearly all of the students remarked on Hudgens’ sense of humor and expressed their appreciation for his willingness to talk with them about his experience as a marine.

Hudgens told the students he had no regrets about joining the Marine Corps in spite of his injuries. He said he appreciated the training he had received because it prepared him for the danger he and his unit faced. He also said the packages they received from home were very important for morale, and made some suggestions for things the students could include in the future.

Sallisaw Central Public School has been involved with the Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve program for the past three years, providing students various opportunities to engage in community service that includes learning about tribal history. The veterans project has included a study of Cherokee military alliances during the 1700s and several classroom lessons that help students connect traditional tribal values to the need for a modern military. Resources from the Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve sub-grant funded the Tahlequah field trip, helped with contents for the care packages and purchased classroom materials.

Schools interested in developing a service-learning project in collaboration with the Cherokee Nation Learn and Serve program should contact Donna Gourd or Dolphyne McCullah, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2167).

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org