2026 Parade Guests of Honor: AHS Project Memorial Committee Members

In 1994, during an Honors International Relations class, Principal Bill Westphal spoke to the students about community service projects, mentioning in passing that Audubon is home to three Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Students from this class, Melanie Aubrey, Derek Everman, Scott Johnson, and Anthony Simeone, realizing that this is a point of pride and distinction for such a small town, approached Westphal days later with a service project in mind.

The students researched, contacted veterans’ organizations, selected a site for their proposed memorial, contacted a contractor, and led efforts to raise over $12,000 in support of the project. The monument, weighing 8,000 pounds and standing at over 5 feet tall, has one panel each, dedicated to the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Samuel M. Sampler, Edward C. Benfold, and Nelson V. Brittin.

Members of the Project Memorial Committee extended an invitation to the first commanding officer of the USS Benfold (DDG-65), Mark E. Ferguson III, to attend the monument’s dedication ceremony on July 4th, 1994, initiating a special relationship between the town of Audubon and the United States Navy that has continued for years.

Monument dedication ceremony. Pictured from left to right: Cmdr. Ferguson, Derek Everman, Melanie Aubrey, Scott Johnson, Anthony Simeone, Principal Bill Westphal

Since this start in 1994, students at Audubon High School have continued the tradition of honoring these great heroes, as well as other local service members who have paid the highest sacrifice for our nation.

The Audubon Celebration Committee is happy to honor the founding members of the Project Memorial Committee, as well as all students and AHS staff who have participated in keeping this tradition alive over the past 32 years, as this year’s Guests of Honor.

Information about the many ways the Project Memorial Committee has been recognized over the years is available on the AHS website.