Second World War veteran Joe Whalen, clicks the mouse to officially launch the Newfoundland and First World War
Books of Remembrance on School Net on Sunday, June 30, 1996. Student Terrilynn Tuttle of Holy Redeemer, Spaniard's
Bay lends a hand.
On June 30, 1996, student representatives, Melissa Coombs, Terrilynn Tuttle, Shaun Lynch and Blair Bradbury, and teachers Ron Fagan and Wendy King from Holy Redeemer School in Spaniard's Bay, officially launched The First World War and Newfoundland Books of Remembrance on-line via STEM~Net. The official launch ceremony was held at the Caribou Veterans Pavilion. The launch was attended by representatives of all levels of gover nment, including the Lt. Governor"," His Honour F rederick Russell, Bonnie Hickey, MP for St. John's East, Provincial Minister of Health, Lloyd Matthews and representatives from project partners, Industry Canada, Veteran's Affairs and STEM~Net. Student Terrilynn Tuttle assisted veterans Joe Whelan and Patrick Mahon in actually launching the site on the Internet. Student spokesperson, Blair Bradbury outlined the benefits participating in the Books of Remembrance project has brought to Holy Redeemer School and its students. After the ceremony the students, their families, teacher s and representative of the Royal Canadian Legion Corporal Matthew Brazil Branch #9 were invited to a reception at Government House which was a real treat.
Student Melissa Coombs described the project:
The grade 9 students at Holy Redeemer School, Spaniard's Bay, spent the year scanning the pages of the Newfoundland and First World War Books of Remembrance into the computer, then converting them into html files (so they could be put on the Internet). The students fixed up any pages that were unable to be read, and put all the names of those in the Books of Remembrance in a searchable list so anyone could find a name they were looking for.
The project benefitted us, the students, in many ways. Not only did we gain new equipment for the computer lab such as a scanner, new state of the art computers, printers, and software. We also gained valuable knowledge about using different programs on the computer, how to use the Internet, and how to use the scanner, along with many other things which will help us in school and in the future. Knowing how to use a computer is not just an asset in today's job market, it's a must!
I would also like to acknowledge the Royal Canadian Legion #9 in Spaniard's Bay who helped make it possible for us to do this project. THANK-YOU!
