SpringfieldNewsSun.com

It's a long path from tragedy to healing. For the students at Greenon High School, that path is made of brick pavers and leads to an impressive flag pole memorial being constructed with their own hands in front of their alma mater.

Art teacher and assistant football coach Matt Johnson has, with the help of countless students and members of the Enon community, spearheaded a project that is designed to beautify the school and honor a fallen friend.

The project will memorialize Pat Jacobson, a budding Greenon football and basketball sensation who died in an auto accident in March. His family has donated the flag poles for the project.

You may recall an article this fall in the News-Sun highlighting a previous memorial to Jacobson, reporting on the Missing Man formation tribute on opening night of the season against Greeneview, which the team called a "Play for Pat." Now there's "Poles for Pat."

"It has sort have been a combined effort from everyone," said Johnson. "The board of education has helped, the school has helped, several classes have chipped in. Students have been helping out when they have had study hall.

"It's pretty neat to see how the kids have taken ownership of the project."

There has been a need for some sprucing up of the entrance area to the school for some time. This project will more than take care of that.

There are three flag poles, the center pole being 30 feet high and the two on each side both 25 feet tall. The U.S., Ohio and Greenon flags will fly from the poles.

There's a 23-foot radius circle of pavers and inscribed stone benches around it, with a 10-foot path leading to the memorial. A whopping 2,300 square feet of pavers will be used. And there's ample room for plants and flowers to add further appeal.

"My art students are looking forward to sitting on the stone benches and sketching whatever catches their eye," said Johnson. "Science teachers are looking forward to seeing what we're planting in it."

Led by seniors Lance Steiner, Austin Wyen and Robbie Ford, the Knights football players have also had a big hand in the project.

"They're just trying to pull together," said Johnson. "Patrick was an awesome student and an awesome athlete, and it is a way to give back to his family. The family was really wowed by the whole thing."

Johnson estimates that over 300 manpower hours have already been invested in the effort, and more will be needed.

"We started this two weeks ago, and there were times I've had 10-15 students out during a class period to help," he said. "We're trying to get it done before Thanksgiving, which is around Pat's birthday.

"We just want to give the community a sense of pride and do something to keep Pat's memory alive."