Schools
North High to Host 80 Veterans Thursday
Veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Cold War, Vietnam and recent conflicts will speak to students during the Downers Grove North event Thursday.
More than 80 area veterans, including those who served in World War II, Korea, Cold War, Vietnam and recent conflicts, will share their experiences with students on Thursday.
It will be the eighth annual Veterans Day event for .
The veterans will participate in a school assembly and visit individual classrooms to share their experiences with students. The assembly will feature a video of area families who have fathers or sons actively serving.
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“Our theme this year is ‘Service-the Home Front,’ and we’re highlighting the experiences of military families,” said Social Studies Department Chair Jill Rose. “I know that the assembly and classroom visits by veterans will give our students many powerful lessons in what our servicemen and women sacrifice to ensure our freedom.”
Dr. Mark Brinkman, a native resident of Downers Grove and parent, will be a keynote speaker. He has served in the Air Force for 19 years as a pediatrician, surgeon, and chief consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General, and he has been stationed in bases in Maryland, Italy, Arizona, D.C. and Ohio. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and earned numerous medals and service awards. He lives in Downers Grove with his wife and five children.
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Congresswoman Judy Biggert, from the 13th Congressional District, will also speak. A long-time champion for area veterans, Biggert has been working with local leaders since 2008 to transform Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet into an outpatient mega-clinic for area veterans. The VA recently agreed to take ownership of the facility, and the new mega-clinic is scheduled to open in May 2013.
A senior member on the Education and the Workforce Committee, Biggert last year brought the Veterans History Project to Downers Grove North, providing students the opportunity to compile and preserve the stories of local war veterans for inclusion in a permanent collection at the Library of Congress.
Editor's note: The following information was provided by a District 99 press release.
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