DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

The Decatur High School Close Up Club had a successful “Rake&Run” over the weekend. More that thirty students and ten parents began the service project early Saturday morning. Four teams of students went to the Glenndale, Vidal/Lamont/Garden, Great Lakes, Adair, and the Candler/Midway neighborhoods to rake and bags leaves. Almost 500 bags of leaves were collected, 37 at one Glenndale home and 29 at a Garden Lane home. More than $1,700 was donated by the very generous Decatur homeowners. One of my favorite stops was on Midway Road, where two young parents, their beautiful children, and friendly black labrador retriever supervised the raking. Another was a young married couple and new homeowners in Decatur who provided drinks and snacks for the kids, as well as a very generous contribution for the spring trip to Washington, D.C. Finally I want to mention a Decatur homeowner who has supported our efforts over the past four years with contributions totaling $1,200. A homeowner with no kids in the system but one who sees the value of teenagers working together to raise money for a good cause and provide a valuable service for homeowners.

Thanks to all who helped to make that year’s R&R one of the best. Happy Thanksgiving!

DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

The DHS Close Up Club will have our annual “Rake&Run” service project on Saturday, November 19, from 8:00 until 4:00. A team of DHS students and adult chaperons will come to your home to rake and bag leaves, clean gutters (adults handle this), and other types of yardwork. This is a free service but donations will be accepted. The club will use all donations to help pay for the spring trip to Washington, D.C. This is the sixth service project of the school year for CU students- two at Glenn Creek, Decatur Cemetery Cleanup, Cemetery Flags for Veterans, and the Dearborn Park/Renewal Competition (tomorrow morning). Please contact Mr. Chris Billingsley (cbillingsley@csdecatur.net) for a spot. As of 11/11, we have nine more spots to fill. Thank you for supporting DHS Close Up!

DHS Close Up Club Sponsor Chris Billingsley writes in…

We were unable to schedule a wreath laying ceremony at the Arlington Cemetery Tomb of the Unknown Soldier [for this year's trip to D.C.].  I am hoping that someone in Decatur knows of a DHS graduate buried at Arlington. We are planning to purchase a wreath to lay at a graduate’s grave. I already contacted several veteran organizations for this information but it is not common knowledge.

Would you be willing to post a request for Arlington information? I need the exact name of the graduate, branch of service, years of military service, and the dates of birth and death.

After a whirlwind week in Washington D.C., DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

Many of you are aware that the DHS Close Up Club recently spent a week in Washington, D.C.  I was unable to provide daily updates because of network problems but the following is a summary of the Close Up and DHS activities of our week in D.C.  To my blog friends, sorry for the late news.

Sunday, April 11- Students and parents arrived at DHS at 3:00 A.M. to make a 6:00 early bird flight.  We eventually arrived at Hartfield, moved through security, and made it to our gate with time to spare. The flight was a very smooth one.   The United flight stewards treated us, especially the girls, like first class passengers.

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Mr. Billingsley writes in…

The Decatur High School Close Up Club will send 15 students to Washington, D.C. on April 11 for a week of government policy making and citizenship training. One of my goals is to connect the 9th and 10th grade students to past events that played a major role in the history of the United States.

On April 11, at 3:15, students will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The wreath will be dedicated to LCDR Harry S. Edwards and SGT Jonathan B. Shields. These former DHS students were killed in action while serving in the military(Edwards in Vietnam and Shields in Iraq).

Later in the week, we will visit the Gettysburg National Battlefield to lay a wreath on the 11th Mississippi monument. Ms. Clyde McCarty, a Decatur homeowner and retired teacher,is one of the few living descendants of Pvt. Joseph Gates Marble. During Pickett’s Charge, Pvt. Marable carried the colors of his unit closer to the federal troops than any other Confederate unit before being captured. Dale Gallon who personally dedicated a copy of his work to Ms. McCarty shows that event in a painting. Marable was her great uncle. The event and painting can be viewed at http://faculty.swosu.edu/scott.long/11thmiss/homepage/11thmiss.htm

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