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twin grads in herrin look to future

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Twin graduates will go their separate ways in the fall for the first time in their lives.

Matthew and James Cundiff of Herrin graduated from Herrin High School recently, and both will be going to college, James to Vincennes University in Indiana and Matthew to James A. Logan, much closer to home.
“It will be strange not to be together,” they said.

Their father, Williamson County Sheriff Tom Cundiff said he knew things would be changing soon.

“I wish they had stayed in sixth or seventh grade,” Sheriff Cundiff said and laughed. “They need to have eight years of high school instead of four.”

He has enjoyed watching them grow up, teaching them about service to the church and their community.

Members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, the boys have been faithful servers through the years, they said.
Matthew, a long-time Scout, has received religious recognitions over the years, and he took on a major project at the cemetery for his Eagle Scout award.

Working for over a year researching branches of the military and working out plans for a monument, Matthew finally finished the project that honors area veterans in six branches of the service.
“We didn’t want to skip one veteran,” Matthew said.

Fund raisers paid for the monument and the parish donated a flag pole, he said.
“I’m happy with the way it turned out,” he said, noting the six branches: U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines.

Matthew said his brother, James, helped out wherever he was needed.
The two said they were glad to have each other in school, especially when one of them had to miss a class.

Both young men enjoy being of service to others.
“It gives you satisfaction to help people,” he said.

A proud parent, admitting to the possibility of bias, said: “They’re a couple of really good boys.”