Moorefield Middle students dedicate site along Corridor H

MOOREFIELD — On May 19 at 4 p.m., Moorefield Middle School’s West Virginia wildflower site on Corridor H was dedicated to the memory of William “Phillip” Hunt.

Taking part in the ceremony were members of the Moorefield Middle School student body, their parents or guardians, Will Hunt, Hunt’s son, Wade Armentrout, Moorefield Middle School’s principal, Diane Tusing, Moorefield Middle School’s Head Teacher, Ron Demedici, teacher at Moorefield Middle School, Betty Combs, retired teacher of Moorefield Elementary School, and Suzanne Goodall, teacher at Moorefield Middle School and recipient of a 2004-2005 Education Alliance Grant.

Goodall’s grant funded a school project entitled Appreciating West Virginia Culture.

Appreciating West Virginia Culture started as a classroom project last year that enabled Goodall to purchase 30-plus copies of Pearl Buck’s “The Good Earth,’’ West Virginia wildflower seed, and a section of land for seeding, which was 1/2 acre, to plant the West Virginia wildflowers.

Goodall’s intentions were to expose her students to literature from a famous West Virginia author, background information regarding the Pulitzer Prize, and how West Virginia wildflowers are grown to beautify highways.

All of her seventh-grade students, both last year and this current school year, have read most of Buck’s entire novel. Tom Youngblood of the Department of Highways, and his colleagues, Anna Shuhan, Department of Environmental Protection., and Jim Riggs, Department of Highways in Charleston, visited Moorefield Middle School last spring to hold an informational assembly for all of Moorefield Middle School’s students to inform them of the wildflower projects that coincide with the Adopt-a-Highway Program.

Last May, the West Virginia wildflowers were planted both by the Department of Highways and Moorefield Middle School students, along with their parents and guardians. This was the first site for West Virginia wildflowers to be planted on the new highway.

During the early fall of this current school year, a tragedy struck Moorefield Middle School with the death of William “Bill” Hunt, who had been the acting principal of Moorefield Middle School, a teacher and a coach.

The loss was a terrible tragedy, and although the students have accepted Hunt’s death, they have also chosen to remember him. Through caring guidance of the school sounselor, principal, and teachers, Moorefield Middle School students have survived the loss.

The Student Council of Moorefield Middle School unanimously voted to name its West Virginia wildflower site in memory of Hunt in the early spring of this current school year. The Department of Highways was also gracious enough to donate a second sign to the site that will include Hunt’s name.

Those who travel Corridor H and notice its beauty that is present year-round are encouraged to take time to visit the scenic overview, which is Moorefield Middle School’s and Hunt’s site. Consider adding to the beauty by planting West Virginia wildflowers perhaps in memory or honor of someone. Moorefield Middle School’s first sign at the site was designed by students to spread a message to the surrounding area. The sign read: “We planted flowers on Corridor H, why don’t you?”