ASHFORD– On Wednesday, the Historic Dupree School opened the doors of its long-awaited community center and used the moment to honor the veterans who shaped its story.
Visitors stepped inside a building years in the making. The center is about 80% complete, and local supporters, including Wiregrass Electric, presented checks to carry it through the final stretch: educational tools, furniture and finishing touches.
The day’s most meaningful moment was a veterans’ salute. It remembered teachers who served in World War I and students like World War II veteran Thelma Hall, whose photo now hangs on the center’s walls, a lasting reminder of who walked these halls before.
Steve Smith of the Historic Dupree School spoke of the sacrifice these men and women made, leaving behind their farms, families, classrooms and jobs to serve their country. Their stories, he said, can still inspire and challenge people today.
As the center nears completion, Smith said, it marks the beginning of a new era for the school, a place for the arts, agricultural training and gatherings that bring the community together.
The historic Dupree school is known for hosting musical events. It’s an opportunity for everyone who enjoys music to come out and play together.
