Two Ridgefield High School Students Chosen to Participate in Digging into History: WW1 Trench Restoration

This summer, the Connecticut Heritage Foundation, on behalf of the Connecticut State Library, is bringing fifteen Connecticut high school students on a community service trip to Seicheprey, France.  Among the students are Aaron Cohen (RHS Class of 2021) and Mairead Lacey (RHS Class of 2021).

The students will work alongside 15-20 French students under the direction of local historians to restore a section of trench once occupied by Connecticut soldiers of the 102nd Infantry Regiment. The memory of this battle on the men who fought was so strong that they continued to commemorate it for decades.

In memory of the battle, Connecticut raised $5000 to help restore the water supply as the village was rebuilt and installed a fountain in 1923 with a plaque commemorating the friendship between the people of Connecticut and the people of Seicheprey. 

On the 100th anniversary of this battle, we re-established that friendship and Digging Into History will continue to build and strengthen those ties. The restored trench will be a historic site for tourists to visit and learn about this important battle and American contributions to the war. 

Acceptance into this program was competitive with students from across the state writing essays and providing recommendations from teachers and community leaders. Students will learn about the war, Connecticut’s contributions, and will work with the descendants of the men who fought and died in Seicheprey to learn about individual experiences. Upon their return, they will share their experiences with those descendants, their schools, their communities and our state.

You can help strengthen the friendship between our state and Seicheprey by donating to this program. 

To learn more about sponsoring a student or to make a donation via check or money order please contact Christine Pittsley at 860-757-6517 or at christine.pittsley@ct.gov  or visithttps://ctinworldwar1.org/trenchproject

 

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