Cedar Cliff student’s project honors senior community’s veterans

CAMP HILL, Pa. - Nov. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- Sean Cameron Clarke is a 17-year-old senior at Cedar Cliff High School, but he’s made a circle of friends including men and women more than five times his age.

As a captain in the Junior ROTC at Cedar Cliff, Clarke is preparing for his future. But the young student has a passion for researching the past. Clarke has spent more than three months interviewing residents of The Woods at Cedar Run senior living community about their service in the United States military.

Clarke has become a familiar and favorite face at The Woods. Staff and residents enjoy his visits and appreciate his diligence when it comes to honoring the men and women who sacrificed so much for our country. His project takes on special significance as The Woods prepares for its Veterans Day activities next week.

“Sean Cameron Clarke walked into The Woods with a purpose, that purpose being to undertake a project that would honor the veterans living there and afford them the  opportunity to share their stories,” said Julie Seifried, Activities Director at The Woods, 824 Lisburn Road in Camp Hill. “These are stories that represent their dedication to their country and their efforts to protect our country’s freedom.”

Seifried said Clarke “began his quest” by conducting interviews with each of the 38 veterans residing at The Woods.

“He recorded their experiences, their thoughts and how it affected their life after leaving the military,” Seifried said. “Cameron focused on both the male and female veterans. His goal is to present each veteran with a book entitled, ‘Snapshots of a Soldier’ at a special ceremony next month.”

Clarke was efficient and methodical. His passion was evident in many details. Even the consent form he handed the residents was unique, with a vintage photo of a veteran on the background of the entire page.

“I started this project because I have a great interest in honoring veterans and I could think of no better way than sharing their stories in their own words,” Clarke said. “I have been interviewing veterans at The Woods. I hope to compile all of this information into book form and distribute it by Christmas.”

Clarke has always set goals for himself. He said after graduating from Cedar Cliff High, he will attend Harrisburg Area Community College for a year and plans on attending Penn State University with his sights set on a law degree.

“I plan on becoming a JAG for the Air Force,” Clarke said.

The veterans residing at the Woods will be attending the Veterans Day spaghetti dinner sponsored by the JROTC at Cedar Cliff High School on Friday, November 7. At that time, Clarke will receive a special recognition award from President of the United States Barack Obama for his outstanding volunteer work with the veterans.

“The most rewarding part of the project by far is hearing the residents’ stories,” Clarke said. “They’ve done so much for their country, but they shy away from the word hero.”