Celebrating the holidays and peace

Exactly 16 years ago, I celebrated the holidays anticipating my first trip to Naperville, population 89,000.

During the flight from Newark to O'Hare on New Year's Day, I had high hopes that the promises in the stack of promotional materials from Naperville real estate brokers on my dining room table in Chatham, N.J., population 8,000, were true.

Way before my reliance on computers and the Internet, I spent several years visiting the Library of the Chathams in search of college towns in the Midwest for relocation. My aim was to find a place with good schools to move closer to my folks in Muncie, Ind.

Having grown up with a huge extended family, most within two-hours distance by car, I had begun to realize that our three children - then ages 9, 11 and 13 -were missing family ties and experiences that had been a big part of my childhood.

Though my cousin lived in Naperville and my brother had recently settled in Glen Ellyn, we hadn't visited. In 1993, Gov. Jim Edgar put the state in a good light.

Naperville's Grand Illumination, North Central College and the Riverwalk sold me during that visit and in March, we moved into our new home.

Treasured memories

I've rarely looked back, though I've returned to visit a number of times. But I miss seeing every old acquaintance. That's why I cherish the Christmas cards, family photos and holiday letters from our former neighbors and friends.

We didn't all share the same faith, but we shared many of the same experiences that connected us through our children, a referendum to regionalize two school districts, city council elections and local events. Much like Naperville, Chathamites enjoy a common sense of community, grounded in a culture of caring and collaboration.

Last week's mail brought resounding Christmas messages for peace and prosperity from friends back East.

My Chatham-walking buddy's four sons are about the same ages as our three children. Two of her sons chose military careers after college. Her youngest son, now 28, is a captain in the Ranger Regiment and has served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Every year she sends a family photo. A few years ago her oldest son married and now she's a grandmother!

This year the message on her family photo Christmas card says "Praying for peace in 2009."

I became mindful amid uncertain times how peace in a positive sense is also prosperity.

Thanks, troops!

Other e-mails led to my gratitude to all the folks here who repeatedly and tirelessly volunteer to let our military know we care about their well being.

To date, Operation Support Our Troops Illinois has packed and mailed more than 20,000 boxes to members of our armed forces in harm's way. Boxes stuffed with warm socks, snacks and toiletries were sent to arrive before Christmas.

Thank-you notes from the troops, available at www.osotil.org, are reminiscent of "I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams."

But then, some servicemen made it home last week.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Derek Zook is among them. Longtime readers may recall my Jan. 7, 2003, column when Zook proposed marriage to his sweetheart after a performance of "Late Nite Catechism" at the now-closed Crossroads Theater in downtown Naperville.

"You popped into my head because sometimes we just don't realize how fast time goes," e-mailed Barb Goodwin last week. "Remember covering my daughter Jodi's surprise engagement to Derek Zook, a Naperville police officer? Well, he has been in Kuwait since last May and (came) home Dec. 19. They have three sons. Andrew is 3 and twins Luke and Joe are 21 months - he will have to get to know them all over again! Derek is just one of so many soldiers we should be proud of!"

Donna Morsozillo organizes Welcome You Home events, an all-volunteer initiative that coordinates homecomings for servicemen and women with the help of Patriot Guard Riders and Warrior Watch Riders.

Saturday and Sunday her organization welcomed home Marine Cpl. Andrew Sprauer, Army Sgt. Christopher Lee and Marine Sgt. Matthew Askren.

In February, Waubonsie Valley High School student Amy Berger, now a senior, collected more than 100,000 valentines for the third annual "Hearts for Heroes," an initiative she started as a tribute to her uncle's military service. For 2009, Berger's goal is for every single soldier to receive a card. "That means 140,000 valentines," she wrote recently.

Much has changed in 16 years. Going forward, here's hoping that during these challenging times, the love, kindness and support of family and friends will unite us with treasured memories of how blessed we truly are.

Peace.