As the nation honors veterans this month, one teaching assistant has made sure anyone who walks the halls of her school in the Southern Tier thinks about those who have served.

"Our community has a long history of military service in all the wars, occupations and invasions this country has been involved in," said Mary Lee Williams, who runs a computer lab at Horseheads High School. "Regardless of how you feel," she says, "we support our graduates serving, or who have served, our country."

She was inspired by students in the area who were going into the armed services and an American Legion newsletter article about other schools that displayed photos, letters and items from graduates serving in the armed forces.

With permission from the district and the graduates, Williams put up a display.

"I soon realized it wasn't enough to just have the photos laminated," Williams said. "They were touched so often the pictures were getting tattered and worn."

Approaching the local American Legion post and the Community Foundation of the Elmira-Corning area, she obtained nearly $3,000 in grants to help pay for display cases. She also worked with the art department to create a banner to showcase the display.

The effort grew as students volunteered to help with the cases, dozens of which now line both sides of a hallway.

"This project grew in so many ways," said Jeff Starr, an assistant principal at the school, and a veteran. "It became community- and kid-driven. I like that it's based on honoring those we know."

Peggy Drake, a secretary in the high school's guidance office, and mother of a son now serving in the military, agrees.

"For parents who have children up on the boards, whether they served years ago or are serving now, the displays mean so much," she said. "It more than brings a tear to your eye."