ALUMNI TO HONOR SCHOOL’S VETERANS — Alumni from Wayne High School have formed a special veterans committee to reach those men and women who served in the military that attended their former alma mater. A special memorial tribute will be held on Memorial Day for these veterans, with the public invited to attend. Those planning the event and who have researched the veterans, includes, from left, front, Veronica West Smith and Helen Sipos, and back, Connie Miro Koniski, Sandy Hudnall Day and Ron Allen. -- Contributed

BLOOMINGDALE — Wayne High School. Many of its graduates fondly look back … remembering their alma mater and what it meant to be an alumni of the Wayne Wolves.

Those who walked the Bloomingdale halls from 1937 until its closure in 1968, were hopeful. Their futures still unknown.

The teenage boys and girls who entered would leave young men and women.

Time passed. And soon, Wayne High School would no longer exist.

The building would be given a new name as part of the Indian Creek School District during its consolidation with the villages of Mingo Junction and Wintersville.

REMEMBERING WHAT USED TO BE — The former Wayne High School building in Bloomingdale is the site where several of its graduates plan to honor the school’s veterans this Memorial Day. -- Contributed

Wintersville High had taken its place.

But those who attended classes during those three decades at the Bloomingdale school, will attest that theirs was a special building.

After all, its graduates — to this day — remain proud of their school’s heritage. More importantly, alumni say they are “especially proud of the hundreds of military veterans who once attended Wayne Township Schools.”

For many of those young men and women who wandered its halls, their futures would consist of going into the military. They would go on to serve in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Some would not return home. Others were wounded, either physically or mentally. Yet, all are admired and considered a hero to their fellow alumni of Wayne High School.

It is because of these veterans in particular, that former Wayne graduates began an effort … an effort that started more than 12 years ago.

It was just something they had to do.

Alumnae Connie Miro Koniski and Rita Dayton Butler decided to request military photos from veterans who once attended their alma mater more than 57 years ago.

The women put out a plea on the school’s Facebook page. However, replies were relatively slow. Up until January, only 51 photos had been collected and posted for alumni and visitors of the page to see. Later that month, a Wayne High veterans committee was created in order to explore possible ideas for creating a more permanent memorial for the school’s veterans. Not just a social media posting.

Members of that veterans committee includes Koniski, Ron Allen, Sandra Hudnall Day, Helen Sipos and Veronica West Smith. The members researched databases. They interviewed veterans. They spoke with veterans’ families and descendants. Their goal was to obtain as much information as possible. And some of the veterans’ stories were amazing, according to Day.

She recalled the “gallant story” of a Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War. She remembered hearing the story of two men who saved their friends during Vietnam.

She mentioned the Vietnam hero who died while trying to save a comrade. Day relayed the story of the World War II pilot who died after he shot down five enemy fighters.

She remarked on the World War II soldier who maintained a diary following his capture and being wounded during the Battle of the Bulge.

It is because of these men and women that a memorial tribute to these veterans will be shown to the public on May 26 … Memorial Day. The event will be held at the town hall in Bloomingdale. A parade to the Bloomingdale Cemetery will begin at 11:30 a.m. Following the parade, refreshments will be available at the town hall.

During that time, guests will have the opportunity to view the photos of and history behind the veterans who attended Wayne High School all those years ago.

Those men and women who served their country in time of war will be recognized by their alumni, along with all area residents interested in being a part of this special event.

Local veterans groups and those who have contributed financially toward the effort, will be in attendance, according to Day. For information, contact Allen at (608) 698-6105 or by e-mail at wayneveterans@gmail.com.