Published: November 22, 2008 12:51 am            

Exchange Club donates Freedom Shrine to SeeWorth Academy

EDMOND — Students at the Justice Wilson SeeWorth Academy, an alternative school at 122nd Street and Kelley Avenue, no longer have to study about historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, strictly out of their textbooks.

The Edmond Exchange Club donated a $1,000 Freedom Shrine with replicas of five of 29 historical documents for a permanent display at the school. The entire school participated in a program that focused on some of these documents with speeches, presentations, a rap, a skit and a game about American rights.

“It’s important that each of them and each of us realize what our forefathers wanted and what people have done for our freedom,” said Kennith Franklin, Edmond Exchange Club member. “We want to get young people to remember those and study them so they will know what it takes.”

Franklin said a local anonymous foundation donated $100 to a charity of the students’ choice for every document the Exchange Club donated. The total of funds donated to charities was $2,900, he said. Salvation Army, Citizens Caring for Children and St. Jude’s are among the charities the students chose. Franklin said the club has donated several Freedom Shrines over the years.

“I learned how my school can come together,” said senior Ieashal Frazier. “Everyone was involved. I saw what it took to get to where we are today.”

Senior Justin Wilson said they put together a program so people could see a play by play of the history behind these historical documents and be inspired to study and read about them on their own.

John Davenport, a senior, said he thinks it will be good to show people what others have done no matter what color they are.

Senior Brittney John said she learned a lot about the documents and how they led to the first black president while rehearsing for a skit about how Abraham Lincoln came to the decision to sign the Emancipation Proclamation.

The National Exchange Club began in 1973 and has focused on doing projects like the Freedom Shrine to promote pride in the country, respect for the flag and appreciation of freedoms.

        

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