Osmond Elementary School (OES) has received grant funding to create a Liberty Wall in the school that is designed to offer a digitally interactive experience with history for students. School officials are expanding the wall to include a Veterans Wall, which will enlarge the learning center to create a full Liberty Hall in the school. Administrators are asking for donations to aid in funding the expansion.

“We were able to get a grant from the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department that will pay for the vast majority of the Liberty Learning Wall,” explained OES Principal Tyler Jack.  “We have decided to add a little more and make this a Liberty Hall” by adding art pieces and artifacts such a copy of the legendary painting “Prayer at Valley Forge,” and a flag that was flown over the US Capitol and sent to OES. An interactive Veteran’s Honor Wall will invite community interest and involvement. “We are very excited for this!”

In the grant application, officials explained that the “Liberty Hall at Osmond Elementary is a permanent, interactive educational space designed to connect students and the broader Star Valley community with the foundational principles of American liberty and the service of local veterans. More than a hallway display, Liberty Hall is a museum-quality civic learning center that integrates historical scholarship, modern technology, and community engagement.”

Offering touchscreen interaction between students and history, the Veterans Honor Wall is designed as a resource where community members can search for information and personal details about local veterans. “Anyone in the valley will be able to add Veteran names, documents, and videos to the Honor Wall via a QR code,” Jack explained.

To purchase the remaining components of the Liberty Learning Wall and the touchscreen Veteran’s Wall of Honor, school officials are inviting the community to support the project financially through donations.

“Each donation of $20 will get the donor’s name on a plaque that will permanently hang in Liberty Hall,” said Jack. “The wall will be installed within the next two weeks, and we are hoping to add the touchscreen Honor Wall shortly after that.  We will need to do a lot of recruiting for people all over the valley to add Veteran information once we get it up and running.”

A detailed description of the project follows as excerpt and summary content from the grant application:

“At the heart of Liberty Hall is the 24-foot Liberty Learning Wall, developed in partnership with Legacy of Liberty. This professionally designed exhibit tells the story of America’s journey toward freedom through three thematic sections: A New Vision, The War Years, and A More Perfect Union. The wall features key historical documents, images, and interpretive text that highlight the nation’s founding principles and Wyoming’s contributions to democracy.”

Each panel on the Liberty Learning Wall contains embedded QR codes that link to short films, primary source documents, historical analysis, and curriculum-aligned assignments. Students will actively engage in history through multimedia exploration and academic production. The wall will offer students the opportunity to watch historical videos, access primary-source materials, complete interactive assignments, conduct guided research, and develop presentations and written projects.

“Adjacent to the Liberty Learning Wall is the Veterans Wall of Honor, a community-driven tribute recognizing hundreds of veterans from across Star Valley. This Honor Wall possibly represents the first comprehensive digital database of Star Valley veterans. The Veterans Wall will include a 65-inch interactive touchscreen display where photographs of local veterans scroll continuously. Students and visitors can search for veterans by name. Searches can be filtered by military branch, conflict, year of service, or other criteria, and individual biographies, videos, service records, and submitted family information can be viewed.”

From anywhere in the world, family members and friends of OES and Star Valley will be able to contribute to the database by submitting photographs as well as biographical and military information about Veterans through a QR code submission system. “Once approved, these submissions become part of the permanent digital archive.”

“All content housed on the touchscreen database will be accessible remotely through a public link, which will allow families to view the Honor Wall from home. Veterans will be able to share their stories globally, students will be able to access research materials from the classroom or anywhere with internet access, and the broader community will be able to remain connected to the project year-round.”

Jack is extremely grateful to staff, students and families at OES who have contributed to the creation of this uncommon community and academic resource and asks for continued financial and informational support in the expansion effort. “Thanks for all your help and support!”