There are about 1,800 veterans from the town of Wareham, and currently, there’s a flag for each and every one of them lining Viking Drive.

On September 11, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood organized a gofundme page to raise the approximately $550 it would take to obtain a flag for each veteran from the town. By Sept. 13, they had raised the money, and on Monday morning students from both Wareham Middle School and Wareham High School were out on Viking Drive, which located near the schools, placing each flag along the roadside.

“For me, it’s important to honor the people that have done so much for us,” said Thomas Best, a member of the Wareham High School Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) who was out placing the flags near Wareham High along with fellow JROTC members Monday. “It’s a token of our appreciation. They’ve done so much for us.”

Just up the road, Middle School Principal Dan Minkle was outside the school helping each and every one of the school’s students present that day to place the flags.

“My hope is that it generates some meaningful conversations between students and their teachers about what it really means,” said Minkle, a veteran himself with the United States Marine Corps.

“It’s important for them to understand the sacrifices of the people in the past,” said Wareham High Principal Scott Palladino. “It put them in the position to do the things they’re able to do today.”

Shaver-Hood said displaying the flags to honor the veterans was just “a small token to express our gratitude.” Like Palladino and Minkle, she hoped students could use it as a learning experience.

“It is important for our students to realize the sacrifices our veterans have made for us through their actions. We are blessed to have the many wonderful opportunities as a result.”