Memorial Day 2012

Once again, I can say how very proud I am of the members of the Warrior Marching Band. Today is a national holiday, one that has come to be more about department store sales and backyard cookouts than anything else. Yet my 60 teenagers woke up early, donned heavy uniforms, and marched in the 90-degree heat and bright sun to help our community remember those who died in service to our country. Special kudos to senior buglers Zack Berman and Eric Vanderhulst who performed "Taps" in the town cemetery.

Being part of this commemoration is very important to me. As we joined with the American Legion and all of the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, we had a chance to reflect on those who unselfishly fought and perished in places like Bull Run, Chateau-Thierry, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Inchon, and Khe Sanh, men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

So I say a sincere thanks to the band students, and also to the parents who supplied us with water. It's good to know that patriotism is alive and well in Deerfield, Illinois.