Dover-Sherborn students pause in front of the Emily Memorial

The following was provided by Kim Phelan.

19 eighth grade students from the Dover-Sherborn Middle School Veterans’ Citizen Action Group (CAG) visited the Peace Abbey in Sherborn last month to learn about the Abbey’s mission and goals and to perform community service.

Students chose groups at the beginning of the year based on their interests ranging from homelessness, hunger, children and animals. The students in the Veterans’ CAG mostly chose the group because they have had family members who have served in the military and they wanted to help and support veterans’ service.

The Veterans’ CAG came up with the idea of visiting the Peace Abbey as students recognized that most veterans really want to support efforts to make peace.

During their tour of the Abbey the students were shown bracelets representing all service members who have died at war in Iraq (each has the name, age and other information about each service member) and also a list of names with the same information for those who have died at war in Afghanistan.

They also participated in Native American drumming and movement activities led by a volunteer from the Abbey.

The students then helped the Abbey with some spring cleaning and raking to help beautify the grounds.