Many of today’s teens likely don’t remember, or never knew, about the nation’s past wars or life in the military.
The veterans who lived through the experiences can’t forget.
On Friday March 7, the two groups intersected for the 25th time.
Navy veteran Walter Parks shares a war story with Martin Luther King High School students Friday, March 7, 2025, during the 25th anniversary of King High School Remembers in Riverside. The program connects students with military veterans for an oral history project, allowing them to do interviews and document their stories. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A small helicopter is displayed while veteran James Corn speaks Friday, March 7, 2025, to students at Riverside’s Martin Luther King High School on the 25th anniversary of King High School Remembers. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A veteran shares a story with Martin Luther King High School students Friday, March 7, 2025, at the 25th King High School Remembers event in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Veterans shares stories with Martin Luther King High School students Friday, March 7, 2025, at the 25th King High School Remembers in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Badges, patches and military artifacts are seen Friday, March 7, 2025, at Riverside’s Martin Luther King High School for the 25th anniversary of King High School Remembers. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Veterans shares their stories with students at Riverside’s Martin Luther King High School on Friday, March 7, 2025, at the 25th King High School Remembers event. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Veteran Mike Kennedy is interviewed Friday, March 7, 2025, by students at Riverside’s Martin Luther King High School at the 25th King High School Remembers event. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Veterans share their memories with Martin Luther King High School students on Friday, March 7, 2025, on the 25th anniversary of the King High School Remembers event in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Logan Turner, of Riverside’s Martin Luther King High School, listens to a veteran Friday, March 7, 2025, at the 25th King High School Remembers in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Air Force veteran James Andrew shares photos with Martin Luther King High School students Bray Hudson and Sydney Cobb on Friday, March 7, 2025, during the 25th anniversary of King High School Remembers in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Veterans shares military memories with Martin Luther King High School students on Friday, March 7, 2025, at the King High School Remembers event in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Veteran Jim Wilkinson describes his time at war to students at Riverside’s Martin Luther King High School on Friday, March 7, 2025, during the 25th anniversary of the King High School Remembers event. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
From left, Martin Luther King High School students Wanyu Xu and Xueyou Ke listen to veteran Jim Wilkinson describe his time at war Friday, March 7, 2025, at the 25th King High School Remembers in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, speaks Friday, March 7, 2025, to students at Riverside’s Martin Luther King High School at the 25th anniversary of the King High School Remembers event. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A submarine veteran shares stories with Martin Luther King High School students Friday, March 7, 2025, during the 25th King High School Remembers in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Navy veteran Walter Parks shares his memories with Martin Luther King High School students Friday, March 7, 2025, during the 25th anniversary of King High School Remembers in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
John Corona, founder of the King High School Remembers program and a longtime educator and coach, introduces students and veterans Friday, March 7, 2025, at the program’s 25th anniversary in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Veteran Marlene Linsalato explains the decorations she earned in the Marine Corps to Martin Luther King High School students on Friday, March 7, 2025, at the 25th anniversary of King High School Remembers in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Veterans shares stories with students at Riverside’s Martin Luther King High School on Friday, March 7, 2025, during the 25th King High School Remembers event. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Army veteran James Corn shares a war story with Martin Luther King High School students Friday, March 7, 2025, during the 25th anniversary of King High School Remembers in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
John Corona, who founded the King High School Remembers program, introduces the event Friday, March 7, 2025, on its 25th anniversary in Riverside. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Navy veteran Peter Ashlock, right, shares a war story with Martin Luther King High School students Gabriel Rodriquez, Saul Rodriquez and Ayden Zolfaghari on Friday, March 7, 2025, during the 25th anniversary of King High School Remembers in Riverside. The program connects students with military veterans for an oral history project that lets them conduct interviews and document their stories. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
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Navy veteran Walter Parks shares a war story with Martin Luther King High School students Friday, March 7, 2025, during the 25th anniversary of King High School Remembers in Riverside. The program connects students with military veterans for an oral history project, allowing them to do interviews and document their stories. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
The project, held in the Martin Luther King High gym, has involved about 14,000 King graduates and 1,000veterans over the years.
In the program, students work in teams of two or three to interview a veteran about “their story before, during and after their time in the military,” a news release states.
Teacher John Corona, now retired but still involved as senior adviser, launched idea.
“We want to put our students face to face with history,” he said in the release. “What better way to learn history than from those who lived it? We want to save these stories for posterity so that their lives and contributions never fade away.”
King High Remembers is nationally recognized and has been replicated by other high schools in the Inland Empire and beyond, Corona said.
“What in education lasts 25 years?” Corona said in the statement. “The fact that we’ve been able to deliver this project to our students for so long a period of time is a testimony to our school, our staff, our administration and our community.”
