Acting upon an impulse inspired by a conversation with Vicki Bunn, a friend from her church, former CHSD170 Principal Barbara McCulley hatched an idea that would involve students, staff, and volunteers from Jefferson and Kennedy Schools in honoring veterans of our area.
In discussing the idea with her daughter, Lana Head, and Angela Foushi, both of whom teach in the district and both of whom have a history of championing causes supporting our troops, they concocted a plan designed to honor those who have served us as members of the military.
"Vicki had mentioned that some of the veterans with whom she worked were homeless and that when you're homeless, you don't have a need for a keychain," McCulley said.
"That one sentence gave me an idea of a way to show our support for the veterans."
Acting upon McCulley's idea, Head and Foushi started "assembly lines" in their classrooms at Jefferson and Kennedy Schools, respectively, to create keychains to distribute to the veterans.
The students worked assiduously, one group starting the keychain, another adding the beads, and the last group finishing and tying off the keychains. Parent volunteers also got involved in the effort by organizing the groups, checking their work, cutting string, and assisting in any way possible.
Upon finishing the keychains, McCulley contacted Mrs. Bunn's husband Roscoe, a veteran and member of the Benjamin O. Davis VFW Post 311 in Richton Park, and made arrangements for the teachers and students, along with Jefferson School Principal Dr. Terry Brink, CHSD REACH Program Director Christopher Baikauskas, to visit the Veteran's Center in Chicago Heights and distribute the keychains to the veterans.
At the event, they met with members of Fire Base Josephine, passed out nearly 200 keychains, took photos, and spent time learning from the veterans.
The veterans, obviously touched by the commitment and initiative of the students and teachers, stood and proudly introduced themselves declaiming their name, rank, service place, and position in the military.
"The veterans were an amazing group," McCulley said. "They were enthralled with efforts on the part of the students and teachers and invited them to come back to visit whenever possible."
After the event, Mr. Bunn contacted the teachers, telling them, "I was so happy to see the interaction between the students and the veterans. It made for a great day to see them talking, laughing, trading pictures, and enjoying the amazing experience."
While at the Veteran's Center the students also provided additional keychains for distribution to veterans at the Volunteers of America, an organization with which Mrs. Bunn is affiliated.
The students also learned of an upcoming Tuskegee Airmen Red Tail Tour, the CAF Red Tail RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit that will be making stops at the Richton Park Community Center and at Prairie State College in November.
"We are hoping to arrange a field trip to the college when the tour stops there so that our students can learn more about the dedication and steadfastness of our service men and women in general, and of the importance of the Tuskegee Airmen," the teachers said.