Page 76 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2026

From the Classroom to World War II
Bringing Veterans’ History to Life
story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of Elizabeth Green
A Pascagoula educator is helping history become relevant
for students. Elizabeth Green, a long-time history teacher
and now an instructor with Pascagoula’s Career & Technical College Institute, has led efforts through National History Day research projects.
“National History Day is sort of like a science fair but for history and it’s been going on for more than 40 years,” she says. “Veteran projects are always important to me.”
“I am very proud of the teachers and students researching World War II veterans who served in the Marine Corps through a grant funded by the Veterans Legacy Program,” said Cathy Gorn, Ph.D., executive director of National History Day. “Studying local history and giving a voice to the stories of veterans is some of the most powerful work students and teachers can do with National History Day.”
One project led by Green took her and a student to Normandy, France, to study World War II-era Americans who are buried there. “The student planned to teach history and was very interested in World War II,” she said. “We’re trying to teach service and sacrifice.”
Through research into the military and civilian lives of 76 | July 2026
service people, these who served become real to the students. For instance, through research into Capt. Howard Cody, the students and Green connected with Cody’s daughter and the group visited Cody Hall, named in his honor, on Keesler Air Force base.
“These are silent heroes and they have stories to tell,” Green says. “Capt. Cody was from Gulfport and his daughter is passionate about his story.”
Another such story is that of Robert Hill McCormick
of Pascagoula, who was career military and became a government teacher after retirement. “We got to see the second part of his life,” Green said. “The students wrote a eulogy and read it at his grave in the National Cemetery in Biloxi. It was more meaningful because some of his family members attended.”
On Veterans Day, Green and several students read eulogies at the graves of two servicemen at the National Cemetery, even taking along a band student to play taps.
“Those who have served have such rich and diverse history. We must not lose people and their lives,” she said. “That’s why I’m involved in these projects.”
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Students recited a eulogy they wrote for World War II Veteran Robert Hill McCormick.