Veterans in Schools: Not Just for Veterans’ Day Anymore…

         Created earlier this year, The Education and Support Alliance Project (ESAP) is attempting to address some of society’s toughest issues by forging an unlikely alliance among veterans, students, and active duty service members.  The theory behind the formation of ESAP is that veterans and service members have a vast pool of life-experience which could benefit American students, while at the same time our students possess energy and sensitivity that adults often lack.  The thought being, why not combine these powerful attributes and speak with one voice?

Gen. Ray Davis

The co-founders of ESAP, General Ray Davis USMC (RET), Captain Thomas Hudner USN (RET), and Matthew Grant agree that the idea surfaced several months ago during a conversation between General Davis and Mr. Grant.  “I mentioned that students and veterans were alike in different ways, and that it’s too bad we can’t magically take some of the abundant experience in the veteran community and give it to the students to assist them with the difficult issues they deal with daily.  It would be almost like a trade.  Veterans and active military members help students avoid some of life’s difficulties and serve as positive role models, while students help to ensure that society remembers the many sacrifices our folks in uniform have made in the defense of our freedoms. General Davis sort of perked up and said, ‘let’s do it.’  It really grew from there.” 
        What grew from that conversation is an organization that has not only been backed by several United States Senators and Representatives, but is already slated for implementation in the fall in its flagship school, Richmond Hill High School in Richmond Hill, Georgia.  Through a variety of activities and projects, ESAP hopes to create an atmosphere that promotes the value of history and civic involvement by engaging students and showing them that their freedoms did not just “happen.” They were earned by real people. 
         Led by an impressive board of advisors that includes authors, seasoned educators, and seven Medal of Honor recipients, ESAP will bring a wide spectrum of activities and projects to schools nationwide on an extracurricular basis.  Among the many activities in which members will participate are The Veterans History Project, specially designed discussion forums, community service programs, a military family support network, and lesson plans designed or evaluated by veterans themselves.  ESAP founders are quick to point out that the program is both nonpartisan and not intended to glorify war, but rather it is designed to present different historical events in an engaging and factual manner.
      Though success has come more quickly than anyone anticipated, ESAP has certainly not been immune to the difficulties any developing nonprofit organization faces. Asked recently what the hardest part of building an organization from ground zero is, Mr. Grant said without hesitation, “Money.  General Davis gave us some seed money, but other than that, my girlfriend and I have paid for it out-of-pocket.  I guess I just thought it would be a little bit different.  Recently I answered an email from a skeptical veteran inquiring about our ‘funding sources.’  He was concerned that our focus might be influenced by a large donation.  I wrote back and let him know that we had no funding source, so he could relax.  The funny thing is though, we haven’t heard back from him.”  When asked about the top four needs that ESAP has, Mr. Grant paused and then said, “I think it is a tie: money, members, veteran interest, and publicity.”  Nodding, Mr. Grant then added, “those things aside, we don’t need anything.  We have the ideas, the plan, and the energy; we just need the resources.”
          For further information concerning The Education and Support Alliance Project (ESAP), to become a member (free), to offer a much needed donation, or to see how you can help, please visit their website at  www.esap.org.  They can also be reached by phone at 706-714-9199 or by email at info@esap.org .  Please also contact your local school systems and veterans organizations to see if they are involved in ESAP.

      Visit the website of The Educational Support Alliance Project

         http://www.esap.org/

The Education and Support Alliance Project (ESAP) is a community support and educational organization which builds a mutually beneficial alliance of students, veterans, and active duty service members. Through a broad range of activities and service programs, ESAP utilizes the distinctive strengths and experiences of veterans and active duty service members to assist students with the difficult and complex issues they face on a regular basis. Concurrently, ESAP draws on the sensitivity and enthusiasm of students to promote greater community awareness and understanding of the many societal contributions made by veterans and active duty service members. Together, ESAP members promote: