A new glass enclosure has been installed around the German railcar featured as part of the Children’s Holocaust Memorial at Whitwell Middle | Photo: WMS Facebook
Phase One of the preservation and improvement project at the Children’s Holocaust Memorial at Whitwell Middle School has officially been completed, thanks to a widespread community effort involving volunteers, local businesses, school staff, and students.
School officials announced the milestone this week, expressing gratitude to the many individuals and organizations who donated time, materials, labor, and expertise to help improve and preserve the memorial railcar and surrounding exhibit area.
The completed phase included construction of a new enclosure project designed to better protect the historic railcar and memorial elements from weather and deterioration.
Among those recognized for their contributions were Lakeway Door and Glass for framing the glass windows, funded generously by community supporter John Wade. Tony Darby and Chris Morrison assisted with the initial cleanup and removal of fencing and pea gravel, while original stained-glass artist Jackie Lofty repaired and cleaned the memorial’s stained-glass butterflies.
Additional restoration work included copper butterfly repairs by Blake Patterson and preparation of a concrete stamp for the Philly Friends Liberty Bell by Joyce Ann Hubbard. Michael Merciers of Southern Star Services assisted with moving the Children’s Memorial statue, while Brent Holder with Arrow Construction prepared the site for electrical upgrades.
Concrete work was supplied by SRM Concrete and finished by Franco Pardo, with costs generously covered by Philly Friends supporters.
School leaders also praised Whitwell Middle School custodians for pressure washing, painting, and removing outdated light fixtures, as well as groups of eighth-grade students who helped remove stained-glass butterflies, perform heavy lifting, and dig during the early stages of the project. Student tour guides and other volunteers also helped clean both the interior and exterior of the railcar ahead of the framing work.
The school additionally thanked members of the Marion County Board of Education, including Dr. Mark Griffith and board member Mrs. Hooper, along with Lead Teacher Taylor Kilgore, Principal Dr. Holtcamp, and Assistant Principal Mrs. Holder for their support throughout the project.
The Children’s Holocaust Memorial at Whitwell Middle School gained international attention through the school’s long-running Holocaust education initiative and the documentary Paper Clips, which chronicled students’ efforts to collect millions of paper clips in memory of Holocaust victims.
School representatives said the completion of Phase One marks another important step toward preserving the memorial for future generations while continuing the school’s mission of education, remembrance, and community involvement.
