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A touching show of respect for veterans

It was an honor to be a guest of my grandson at a Veterans Day celebration at his school. He is a fourth-grader at James C. Bush Elementary School in Johnsburg. The program far exceeded any of my expectations. Patriotism and respect are alive and well in this country, if the James C. Bush faculty and students are any indication. It was a wonderful experience and I must admit that I had an occasional lump in my throat and wiped away a tear or two.

There were 80 veterans there from World War II to the present day. All branches of service were there. The people who planned this event went all out in showing their appreciation of veterans and the sacrifices they made. A highlight was a beautiful rendition of our national anthem by a young lady named Charissa Mrowka. All veterans stood and saluted as she sang. It warmed my heart to see some of the kids saluting, too. There were many other special moments that day. I will treasure that day forever.

We veterans had some time to mingle before the program started. We enjoyed meeting one another and sharing some experiences. We were young and old and in between. We came from different places and backgrounds. I am sure our political opinions were as varied as the colors in a rainbow. The one thing we all had in common was that we were willing to serve our country. I believe that if we were asked to solve a problem we would get the job done in spite of our differences. That’s what it takes to accomplish anything.

If only Congress could understand that.

Ron Flowers

Elk Grove Village

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