Students in Slippery Rock School Area District enjoy honoring veterans, according to Robert Book, a middle school social studies teacher. With a recent endeavor to name a bridge recognizing local veterans, students may get a chance to bestow their biggest honor yet.

The idea to name a bridge was the result of a patriotic middle school social studies department and two veteran alumni, Book said. Lane Rawson of the United States Marine Corps and Laura Goossen, graduate of Slippery Rock High School and West Point and now a Westinghouse employee, have interacted with students at previous assemblies.

“(Goossen) has been the lead on this project, and we have worked with her to try to move this project along,” he said. “We thought we should do something big.”

The district’s naming the bridge is not guaranteed, Book said, but he and Goossen have been in contact with state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th and state Rep. Timothy Bonner, R-8. The naming would be of no cost to the school.

“It’s not a done deal but if it happens, for the rest of their lives when you go into Slippery Rock (students) will get to say ‘I named that bridge,’” Book said.

The bridge chosen runs into Slippery Rock on Route 108 over Interstate 79. Students in grades five through 12 were asked to submit names for the bridge, with Goossen and Rawson to narrow the options.

“We had 547 responses from kids. Some of them wanted to name it after their relatives who’ve served. We wanted to celebrate as many as possible,” Book said.

The chosen name was unveiled to students at the school’s spring pep assembly March 11. “The Veterans of Slippery Rock Bridge” was picked for a variety of reasons, according to Book.

“I liked what (Goossen) said about why we chose the name: because it honors Slippery Rock veterans of the past, present and future,” he said.

This is the first time the district has pursued an opportunity such as this, Book said. They’re seeking to connect as many people as possible to the project, including Mayor Jondavid Longo of Slippery Rock Borough and the ROTC.

The project would have to go through a six to nine month process. Book said he hopes the bridge can be named by the next celebration of Veteran’s Day.

“I’d love to see something come together. The students love doing things like this. They love honoring vets,” he said.