Preserving history for future generations

Many of those who graduate from high school like to give back to their alma mater and put something out publicly for future generations to be inspired by.

Not Pulaski High School’s Class of 2022, however. Their gift to future generations was buried.

This graduating class is the 100th to be ushered into adulthood by the Pulaski Community School District, and the seniors wanted to put together something that would inspire students in the year 2072 and let them know what school was like in what will likely be considered at that time to be the good old days.

The senior class marched through the village of Pulaski on May 24, cheered on by community members as they journeyed from Glenbrook Elementary School, which was the location of the district’s first high school in the 1920s, to PHS to bury a time capsule that the students have spent the whole school year filling.

“This is a historic moment,” said Connor Heezen, senior class president as he held the metal cylinder in his hands before it was buried by him and his classmates. “Pulaski has celebrated 100 years of excellence and pride here at the high school, so we might as well bury this thing and make a movement out of it.”

Heezen said the capsule contains a class photo, messages from students and the community, a school T-shirt, and an external hard drive of all the Red Raider reports and the Pulaski News stories that made headlines in one of the oldest student publications in the country.

“This will be dug up in 50 years,” Heezen said before acknowledging his fellow class officers for their hard work. “Let’s bury this thing.”

Students and class members yelled out “Bury it!” as the students covered up the capsule, which was buried near the back entrance to the school, where people go for sporting and theatrical events. Following the ceremony, everyone celebrated with ice cream.

“Pulaski has always been known for its traditions here (at the high school), so we really wanted to do something special,” Heezen said. “We asked the class if they wanted to do a time capsule, and they decided what they wanted to put in it.”

Heezen noted that the students wanted to go beyond just having the capsule, which is why they decided to do a parade preceding the burial to further bolster community spirit.

“We’ve had 100 years of Pulaski High School here, so it’s amazing stuff,” Heezen said.

The soon-to-be-graduate didn’t know for sure what his alma mater would be in 50 years, when the capsule is expected to be unearthed, but he seemed certain that it would still be known as a place for well above average education.

“I think Pulaski High School will continue a tradition of excellence, especially in academics and athletics and music,” Heezen said. “I think we’re going to become a school where it’s worth it to bury this time capsule. We’re a school that makes an impact, and I think that’s where Pulaski will be in 50 years.”

Heezen expressed pride in the Class of 2022 and said it just made sense that he and his classmates would want to leave something behind that would be remembered long after they had gone.

“This class is just part of a nice environment,” Heezen said. “Everybody here is pretty much accepting. We worked really hard as a class both academically and athletically, so I think it’s a big deal for our class to be the one burying (the time capsule). We definitely made an impact on this school.”

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com