Few have noticed more than a tiny bit of it, but there's a memorial scroll tucked in an obscure corner of the front office of Centre Dufferin District High School honouring local veterans of the two world wars — and four Grade 11 students have decided it's a shame to have it virtually hidden from public view.

Photo/WES KELLER THE HIDDEN MEMORIAL: Following a Remembrance Day assembly, Second World War veteran Wayne Snell poses with Grade 11 students Alexandra Berry, Sarah Callaghan, Alissa Droog and Corah Lynn Hodgson and the A. J. Casson scroll honouring about 200 one-time students who served in either or both world wars. Because of its unique value, the scroll has been kept safely in the front office but the students plan to create another memorial honouring the veterans. It is to be unveiled on Nov. 11, 2010. Perhaps even more shameful from an historical viewpoint than one might guess, as the scroll was created by none other than A. J. Casson — a member of the Group of Seven who died in 1992 and is buried along with the other six at the McMichael Canadian Collection of Art in Kleinburg.

The four — Alexandra Berry, Sarah Callaghan, Alissa Droog and Corah Lynn Hodgson — have taken it upon themselves to raise sufficient funds to create a permanent memorial to be placed in the front entranceway, and to have the unveiling take place at the school's Remembrance Day assembly in 2010.

Apart from honouring former students who served in either or both of the two wars, the signature on the scroll makes it a rare and valuable item, and perhaps that's why it's been kept out of areas where it could be damaged.

The girls have no argument with that, but want the students to be reminded of the more than 200 who left the school to serve their country in the cause of freedom.

"Our plan is to have a formal monument constructed, engraved with all the names of the Shelburne High School attendees who were whisked overseas into the war effort, to be placed between the front sets of doors in Centre Dufferin. It would be less fragile than the existing scroll, as it would be composed of stone, although much more expensive," say the girls.

They estimate the cost at something more than $5,000 and, so far, have raised about $500. But it's not all about fundraising. Teacher Neil Orford, who's working with the students on the project, says the girls are concerned that some names might be missing from the scroll.

They have a list of about 200 former Shelburne High School students who volunteered in either or both World Wars but are asking the community to provide additional names of those who served, such that none are missed when the permanent and highly visible memorial has been completed.

How important is it to have a visible reminder? "How can we remember?" asks Sarah rhetorically. "We were not here when the (world) wars happened."

Oddly, all four had gone through Grade 9 and were well into Grade 10 before they knew of the memorial. "We were in our history class," said Alissa, when the topic of the memorial first came up.

"I guess everyone in the office has seen (the scroll), but not many others have."

To view the scroll, this reporter was directed to the front office where a teacher said, "there it is. Behind that (partition), under the fire alarm."

All that's visible about it from the front is the top of the frame and about a couple of inches of the scroll itself.

You might never actually view the scroll, but by this time next year you will see a permanent memorial fashioned more or less after it.

But the four young ladies need a bit of community help to accomplish their goal.

For more information, contact Mr. Orford at the school, 519-925-3834.