Naperville North dedicates Memorial Garden to fallen alumni

Naperville North High School students will begin their Memorial Day observances Friday by dedicating the school’s new Memorial Peace Garden to two men who died in service to our country.

The sacrifices of Army Staff Sgt. Andrew R. Pokorny and Marine Cpl. Anthony G. Mihalo, both graduates of Naperville North, will forever be remembered in the new garden to be dedicated at 9:45 a.m. May 27 in a front atrium across from the principal’s office.

“The Memorial Peace Garden stands as a memorial to our two heroes, as well as a visual reminder of our deep conviction to work toward peace,” said humanities teacher Jenne Dehmlow, who coordinated the project. “In addition to what we have created to honor Andy and Tony, we are most proud of the way everyone has come together on all sides of the political spectrum to create this space within our school.”

Pokorny was killed while fighting in Iraq in 2003 and Mihalo was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2008.

The families of both soldiers are expected to be present for the dedication. Mihalo’s sister, Bobbie Mihalo, currently a junior at Naperville North, will speak on behalf of her brother. The concert choir and orchestra will perform, as well as soloists from the music department.

Members of the Naperville American Legion and VFW will provide a 21-gun salute. Members of the Marine Corps will be displaying the colors. A member of the Navy and current teacher at North will provide the formal ceremony rights for the mothers of Mihalo and Pokorny as they lay wreaths on the outdoor stone and the indoor atrium garden stones honoring the men.

The presentation of the Senior Class gift of 2011 — six panels of stained glass honoring the message of the garden — will be made, as well as the presentation of the Peace Poles donated by the Indian Student Association, the Muslim Student Association and Spectrum.