At the intersection of Osage Avenue and the Cobbs Creek Parkway, in West Philadelphia, a historical marker stands. It’s blue with yellow letters, as is any other marker of this kind in the city. But this one is special.

First, because it commemorates a tragedy: the MOVE bombing, which killed six adults and five children and destroyed dozens of homes on May 13, 1985, when a State Police helicopter dropped a bomb on one of the block’s houses. It was one of the darkest days in Philadelphia’s history. This year marks its 40th anniversary.

Second, because the proposal for this marker was championed not by activists or historians, but by a group of passionate 13- and 14-year-old students from a local school.

The marker, unveiled in 2017, is more than just a sign; it is a testament to the power of young people determined to keep the past alive and a school that encourages them to do so.