Mundelein High expanding tribute to hometown soldiers, veterans

A display honoring Mundelein High School students who went on to serve in the military soon will be expanded - and officials are looking to the community for help.

The school's Wall of Honor - actually a small, wall-mounted case in the main hallway near the auditorium - now features the names and photographs of more than two dozen Mundelein graduates who found careers in the Army, Navy, Marines or other military branches.

Teacher Barbara Tsutsumi, who oversees the tribute, is expanding the effort to include photographs of more graduates as well as any Mundelein High staffers who are military veterans or reservists.

Tsutsumi plans to move the display to a larger case, too, one that will have room for military artifacts and memorabilia.

Her goal is to remind students, teachers and visitors that troops with local ties are putting their lives on the line to protect the things civilians take for granted.

"I think it's important to keep people focused and aware that these people are still serving and in harm's way," said Tsutsumi, whose son, Daniel, is a Marine and whose father was a World War II veteran. "I just feel we need to remember (that) at all times."

The Wall of Honor display went up in 2005. It was inspired by a display Tsutsumi saw during a visit to a different school. She and fellow Mundelein High employees Kathy Schweda and Paul Ruske led the project.

Although they had soldiers fighting in the then-new Iraq war in mind when the project began, Tsutsumi said their goals were not political.

"It isn't a statement about war," said Tsutsumi, who teaches English-as-a-second-language courses. "It's a statement about honoring those who choose to serve, because it's an honorable and noble choice."

Principal Lauren Fagel said she's seen many visitors to the school stop to examine the display. She supports Tsutsumi's efforts to honor the troops and veterans.

"We want to highlight any successful graduates," Fagel said. "And this is certainly a measure of success."

The new Wall of Honor display will be open to any Mundelein High graduates, employees or children of employees. Community members without direct ties to the school can help out, however, by supplying the names of graduates who went into the military.

Tsutsumi also wants biographical details to accompany the photos, especially graduation year, branch of service, military rank, current base location and job description.

More information about the project is available on the school Web site, mundeleinmustangs.com. Thanks to that promotion, Tsutsumi has already heard from people with information about potential honorees.

People with contributions or information for the tribute should e-mail Tsutsumi at tsutsumi@mhs.k12.il.us or call her at (847) 949-2200, ext. 1156.

Photographs and biographical details can be delivered to Tsutsumi at the school, too.