While this project does not include all of the alumni from Johnston serving, all of the firefighters, police officers and soldiers who took one of Eagles’ classes will be represented in Eagles’ project. “These are the students I know personally,” Eagles said. “I’m pretty proud of that and I think they should get a little recognition.”

So far, Eagles has 22 alumni, going back to 2007. As long as Eagles’ students continue to pursue public safety careers, Eagles will remember more names and he will keep adding them to the project. The project will never be completely finished. “It’s a tribute to any of my students that took an oath to protect the country, the constitution, or their community,” Eagles said.

Although Eagles has not served in the military or as an officer, his experience with military bases and his time as a firefighter has given him an inside look on the duties of these men and women. “All the time it takes away from your family; it’s a big commitment,” Eagles said.

Eagles began this project in late 2015, after having a conversation with his students about his former students who have gone into the military. The more Eagles thought about it, the more he realized there were many students that went into some form of public safety. He came up with the idea to honor the students he knows with a plaque with their names. After a lot of brainstorming, he came up with the name Eagles’ Heroes. “It was perfect,” Eagles said. “They are heroes in my mind.”

With the help of his students, the process to make Eagles’ Heroes was on its way.

Starting with Cody Church, ’16, he sketched out how the plaque should look. Using Autodesk Inventor, he designed every detail of the board all on the computer. He was precise with every line to make the right shape, with Eagles’ approving each step.

Church, who is on his way towards working for the U.S. Navy, hopes that the plaque will convince students who are doubtful in the public safety system, that not all cops are bad.

“This shows those people that they aren’t all bad because it tells them hey you were friends with that cop or soldier in high school,” Church says. “They weren’t bad or racist then so what makes them more likely to be now.”

The backboard will rust as time goes on, but the rectangular metal nametags were spray painted with clear paint to allow them to stay bright and shiny on the contrasting metal board. This makes the names of those serving.