ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Students from Valley High School were recognized Wednesday morning for their continued commitment to honoring veterans.

The school’s woodworking classes were recognized by the New Mexico Department of Veteran Services and Bernalillo County for building urns to house the ashes of unclaimed veterans.

Each urn has the name of the veteran, as well as the seal from their branch of service. Woodworking teacher Eugenio Perez, himself a veteran, saw the need to make sure these veterans were not forgotten and wanted to give his students a life lesson.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, you can contribute and do something for your community, so I think that was the biggest lesson,” Perez said.

The class built urns for 22 veterans that were interned at Santa Fe National Cemetery last month.