By Matt de Simone
Lord Botetourt High School students gathered in the auditorium last Friday morning for an educational assembly hosted by Bruce Ingram’s English 10 Advanced Studies classes. The event honored three World War II veterans—Marion Noel, the Rev. Ed Burton, and Dorothy Ravenhorst—while giving students a platform to present what they had learned through weeks of research and preparation.
The assembly began with student-led slideshows on various aspects of the war, each highlighting a different perspective of the global conflict. The slideshows were presented by sophomores Annie Puckett, Adelle Roberts, and Neela Megow.
Puckett explained the difficulty of preparing for her presentation: “It was a lot of research, so just trying to find credible sources and then cite them and figure out what information was accurate and what information was common.”
For Roberts, the project opened doors to parts of history often overlooked. “It was a really cool opportunity to learn all this stuff that we don’t really learn in school in history class,” she said.
Megow, who drew from books and family stories, added, “My grandpa knows a lot about World War II, so I could talk to him about it. And it was fun researching. It was fun.”
Topics ranged from women’s roles in the military to the integration of armed forces, culminating with a powerful presentation on the Battle of Iwo Jima. Other student presenters included Anna Radtke, Brooklynne Jolley, Finn Wilkinson, Evie Hogan, Grace Shonhor, Declan Milton, Ella Carpenter, Ellie Rosine, and Sheyla Anaya, each contributing to introductions for each veteran.
Following the student presentations, Ingram took the stage and invited the three honored guests to share their first-hand accounts of World War II.
Marion Noel, who served in the Navy and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, shared a remarkable detail: the American flag raised atop Mount Suribachi came from his flatboat. The Rev. Ed Burton spoke about being part of the U.S. occupational force in Japan after the atomic bombings and reflected on his experiences as an African American serviceman in a still-segregated military. At 104 years old, Dorothy Ravenhorst, who attended the event remotely, shared stories of her time in the Navy WAVES, where she served as a gunnery instructor teaching men how to shoot down enemy aircraft—a critical role, even though women were not allowed in combat.
Photos by Matt de Simone
The event served not only as a history lesson but also as a moment of reflection and gratitude. Students said they left with a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made during the war. “I gained a lot of respect for what they did and what they have done,” Puckett said.
Roberts agreed, emphasizing the importance of hearing veterans’ stories directly: “Their whole experience and how they were treated—it really gave me a new perspective.”
Megow added that her biggest takeaway was how much life and attitudes have changed since the 1940s. “They didn’t even see it as different. For them, it was just life.”
