Local schools to honor Vet's Day
Veterans Day is Sunday, and some local schools are planning events to honor those who have served in the armed forces.
Today, Winston Campus will have a special assembly to honor veterans including performances from the elementary and junior high students. Plum Grove Junior High School is also planning a Veterans Day assembly today and Paddock Elementary will host a Veterans Day celebration this morning.
On Monday, Lake Louise Elementary will have a Veterans Day assembly and Sundling Junior High will host a breakfast for veterans, which will feature performances by students. The Sundling band also worked with Palatine's Yellow Ribbon Support Group to send care packages to military personnel serving overseas.
Letters and packages from home have always been important to those serving in the armed forces. My aunt recently passed along to me a letter written Dec. 26, 1943, by William R. Davis at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station to my mother, who was 5 years old at the time and living in Highland Park.
This is what it said, in part:
"Dear Anna Mae,
Just a little note of deep appreciation for your very wonderful Christmas remembrance. I don't believe I ever received a Christmas present that I valued half as highly as yours.
You know, Anna Mae, it's little girls like you who really give us fellows something to fight for. We think you're tops and believe me when I say, you're surely doing your part ...
You know, I've got two little girls myself, one 3 years old and one just six months old. If you have a picture of yourself, I'd sure like to have it. I'll only be here until Jan. 13, so please write right away."
I don't know what Christmas present my mother, who has since passed away, and her family gave this sailor, but it obviously was important to him. And I'm sure soldiers and sailors today feel the same about the letters and packages they receive. If you would like to know more about Palatine's Yellow Ribbon Support Group, which is run by Mac & Pat McCoy, visit the Web site www.yellowribbonsg.org.
Band concert: The Palatine Concert Band will present its annual fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St. Admission costs $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. This talented group of musicians, under conductor Ron Polancich, will perform "Celebration Overture" by Paul Creston, "Jericho Rhapsody" by Morton Gould, "William Byrd Suite" by Gordon Jacob and other works. For information, call (847) 991-2731 or visit palconband.org.
Bears Care: From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Whole Foods Market, 1331 N. Rand Road, will donate 5 percent of the day's sales to Bears Care. To help draw patrons, Midtown Athletic Club will provide complimentary massages, Whole Foods Market will provide football-themed food and drink samples and the Bears' mascot, Staley "Da Bear," will make an appearance.
Bears Care, the charitable beneficiary of the Chicago Bears, is committed to improving the quality of life for people in the Chicago-area community, especially disadvantaged children and their families, through targeted programs supporting education, youth athletics and medical research and health awareness programs focusing on breast and ovarian cancer.
Midtown Athletic Club, 1760 N. Hicks Road, also hosted a 5K run and walk in September, which attracted 535 participants, from which all proceeds will benefit Bears Care.