Fox Valley Veterans Day observances
Carpentersville
Parkview Elementary School will host a Veterans Day service at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Park, Carpenter Boulevard and Cleveland Avenue in Carpentersville. After the students parade to the park, Carpentersville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5915 will post the colors, followed by remarks by Parkview Principal Ellen Bruning and District 300 Superintendent Ken Arndt. The students will offer a pledge and a Veterans Day skit. Soloist Larry Zea will sing "God Bless America" with accompanist Phyllis Connelly, followed by a history of taps. The rifle salute by VFW Post 5915 will take place at 11 a.m. sharp, followed by the playing of taps.
Crystal Lake
• McHenry County College will host a Veterans Day Recognition program beginning with patriotic music by McHenry High School Band and choir at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the multipurpose room in Building A at the college, 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake. Keynote speaker will be Diann Jabusch, assistant vice president of Information Technology at MCC, who will present "The Heroes Among Us" at 9 a.m. Jabusch's military career spans 20 years with enlistments in both the Marine Corps and the Illinois Air National Guard. Her military experience includes avionics repair for F-4 aircraft, driving forklifts, building war readiness kits, programming databases and managing a barracks of 100 women Marines. During this time, she received a Meritorious Promotion, Good Conduct Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and was awarded Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. After the Marines, she and her husband moved to Illinois to attend college and raise two daughters. She has been supporting and leading technology for higher education for the last 23 years. Last year, she moved to Algonquin from central Illinois to join MCC as assistant vice president of Information Technology.
Special guest speaker will include Paul Wheeler, chairman of MCC's newly formed MCC Student Veterans Group. He will present an overview of the group's mission and community service efforts. A former U.S. Navy Petty Officer, 2nd Class, Wheeler's military career from 2002-08 included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He also participated in Tsunami Relief for Malaysia. Wheeler, of Crystal Lake, is a stay-at-home dad and attends MCC part-time, pursuing a degree in nursing. Wheeler is a third generation member of the military, with his family members serving during a total of five wars. His grandfather served in the Navy in World War II, his father was a U.S. Army Officer during the Vietnam War, stationed in Germany, his older brother served in the U.S. Army during the Cold War, stationed in Germany, and his younger brother is a military police officer currently stationed in Germany.
In addition to patriotic music and the speakers, the Veterans Day ceremony will include a posting of the colors by the Combined Services Color Guard with bagpipe music. The event is free. For details, call Georgianne Cirrincione at (815) 479-7635 or Donna Bieschke at (815) 455-8728.
• The Crystal Lake Historical Society will host a "Union Soldier Statue Brick Dedication" at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Union Cemetery, off Woodstock Street in Crystal Lake. The ceremony will observe the establishment of the Union Cemetery Veterans Concourse. It will include the unveiling of the Union Cemetery Veterans Concourse marker stone and a brick paver installation ceremony. The Union Soldier Statue restoration project is still seeking funds to complete the restoration.
Elgin
The city of Elgin will host a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Memorial Park, just north of the library, 270 N. Grove Ave. The Burlington High School Band and Choir will perform. The guest speaker will be army veteran and radio personality Floyd Brown. For details, call (847) 741-1684.
Hampshire
Hampshire High School will honor Veterans Day with an all-school assembly at 10 a.m. They have invited about 40 veterans in the area to attend, along with some special guest speakers. The naval color guard unit from the Great Lakes Naval Station will kick things off. The veterans will be invited to stay for a luncheon. Afterward, they will talk to students about the impact of the veterans on our history.
St. Charles
The third annual Veterans Celebration Concert takes place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the St. Charles North High School auditorium, off Route 31. This concert is a tribute to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The St. Charles North Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and the Varsity Band will play a variety of inspirational pieces as a tribute to the veterans. This concert is free, but tickets are limited. To register for the concert, visit veteranscelebration.eventbrite.com or call (630) 445-1704.
South Elgin
• South Elgin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2327 and Ladies Auxiliary present the Veterans Day service at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Panton Mill Park on Water Street.
• Heritage Woods of South Elgin, 700 N. McLean Blvd., will be honoring all veterans with a special Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. There will be a color guard presentation with special guests. To commemorate this day, they would like to honor the residents who served, as well as extend an invitation to all veterans in the community.