Exeter Union High School students Dakota Cardwell and Daniel Gardner wanted to make sure they crossed all their ëTísí when they graduate next year. So in order to fulfill their community service requirement, the two 17 year olds decided to repair actual crosses.

Cardwell and Gardner were happy to put their metal-working ability to use when they heard that the America Legion Post 94 in Exeter needed to repair 50 crosses that were broken or bent on Memorial Day. The Legion places 1,300 small, white crosses topped with American flags at the graves of veterans on Memorial Day at the Exeter Cemetery.

But each year, a few of the crosses are bent when volunteers stick them into the ground.

ìWe had heard about it and knew about the crosses that go out each year so we wanted to help,î Cardwell said.

ìWe knew it would count toward our community service hours and we both like working with metal,î Gardner said.

Both of the soon-to-be-seniors have taken ag mechanics since their freshmen years. Cardwell said he grew up on a horse ranch in Lindcove helping with projects around his parentsí property. Gardner said he became interested in metal fabrication watching his dad work on projects around the house in Exeter.

Ag Mechanics teacher Dan Crookham said each student needs 40 hours of community service to graduate from Exeter Union High School. He said Cardwell and Gardner took on the project because they have shown a lot of skill with torches and welders.

ìNot everyone is comfortable working with metal, but these guys are,î Crookham said. ìAnd not every student is comfortable in the classroom, but these guys like being here in the shop.î

The project is just one of many that the ag mechanics students work on each year. Crookham said his students have repaired broken down utility vehicles for Rocky Hill Elementary, helped with the Life Lab school garden, fixed music stands for the band and almost anything around the high school.

ìThe great thing about this project is, like most of our projects, we can tailor projects to a kidís ability,î Crookham said.

ìWe are always looking for projects where the kids can make a little money too. Itís good for their self-esteem to be rewarded for a good job. It helps them a lot down the road.î

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