Page 17 - HIWT Fall 2012 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

ASSABET VALLEY WELDING STUDENTS

(Continued from page 16)
In the end, this “Learn to Serve” project made such a positive,
eye-opening impact on both the staff and students in knowing
days during their school vacation breaks to help others who that we made a difference in the lives of homeless veterans
might be in need of a helping hand. I shared with my students through our service and creation of a lasting welded metal
the meaning of the “ Learn to Serve” program and what it sculpture for their dining hall, which all can appreciate. A
meant to volunteer their time in helping a person, family, bronze plaque is affi xed onto the wall near the sculpture,
elder, disabled, or veteran. expressing thanks to all Worcester’s veterans for their service
in keeping our country safe and free.
This year during spring break, we decided to direct our
efforts, energy, and compassion to Worcester’s homeless In your own lives you are encouraged to take the time out of
veterans. When we arrived, we had the opportunity to listen your busy schedules to volunteer to help a veteran who might be
to the president of Veterans, Inc. talk about the causes of in need of your assistance, kindness, and compassion. Perhaps
homelessness among veterans in our country. The students you too, can brighten up a homeless shelter or veterans’ post
and staff felt then that their time would be well-spent by living with your welding talents by creating a meaningful welded
at the homeless shelter for three days, eating meals with the sculpture. After all, it’s the veteran that we call upon when we
veterans, getting know them and learning about homelessness, need them and now, when veterans need us, it our time to give
addictions, and how easily people of all walks of life can fall back to them.
on hardship that leads to homelessness. During the process
of serving meals, I had the opportunity to talk with several Neil Mansfi eld, AWS-CWI/CWE, as AVRTHS Metal Fabrication instructor,
veterans. Many of them commented on how impressed they metal artist, a graduate of Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, a retired
US Navy Chief, A New York City third-generation Ironworker, and was a
were to see young adults working so hard and volunteering welder at General Dynamics Electric Boat.
their time.

Since we are vocational-type people who build things with our
hands, we provided painting and carpentry services, and meal
services. It was also important to us as welders to make a

thoughtful, meaningful gift that reflected all veterans and their
armed forces branches that would be proudly be displayed in
the homeless shelter. This took the form of a special welded
gift to the shelter’s dining hall (or chow hall, as vets would
call it).

One student who took the lead and did most of the designing,
fabricating, and welding was a Rachael Auger, a senior and
an enormously talented, gifted, female welder. Rachael and
her crew of seniors and sophomores were given the suggested
theme and size requirements from the shelter’s director. As
the students gathered and brain-stormed ideas, they sketched
several designs, thinking about materials such as bronze,
copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and black iron. At one point
we all gathered on the shop floor on our hands and knees with

soap stone in hand, sketching each design full scale to include
all of the designs.

Armed forces medallions, which are magnetic, were purchased
through a New England funeral home director and are used in
military veterans’ funerals. They were riveted onto a round
plate representing each armed force branch.

17