HPHS is proud to honor all veterans this Veterans Day, and is particularly grateful to members of the military and their families within its own community.
A number of events will surround the holiday, including a Troop Care Package event, a special meal honoring students of military families, and a US Navy Band--Great Lakes concert at HPHS.
Just recently, HPHS alum Lee Bagan visited HPHS to present a flag flown in Afghanistan by Navy SEAL Team Five. Lee worked with the SEAL team when deployed to Afghanistan, and his unit received 50 care packages from HPHS. He said the packages came during some particularly difficult days for the troops. “It made a tremendous difference,” he said.
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Lee gave special thanks to HPHS staff member Eleanor Singleton. Mrs. Singleton has organized the care package event repeatedly, and HPHS has mailed a remarkable 1,000 packages since 2007. This November 13 marks the 13th troop care package event. Participating clubs over the years who have partnered on the event, donated funds or written letters include Student Senate, Key Club, Giant Buddies, DECA, Italian Club, UNITE, Rotary Interact Club many class councils and other clubs.
Each box contains a book or magazine, hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo), food items (tuna, canned pasta and fruit, hot chocolate, coffee, crystal light), snacks (granola bars, power bars, crackers, gun, peanuts, candy, fruit snacks), socks, fun items (games, T-shirts), a handwritten letter from the person that packs the box.
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With current postage at $12.35 per box, donations to cover postage are particularly appreciated. Last year, 146 boxes were shipped out. Please contact Mrs. Singleton at esingleton@dist113.org to help.
During his visit, Lee Bagan had the chance to meet with the UNITE Club, made largely of students of military families. He said he wasn’t a top student while in school, and said that he didn’t particularly enjoy listening to returning alumni talk about their successful lives at that point. But he was inspired to take his studies seriously after a terrorist bombing of a naval warship in 2000 and do something to combat violence.
He wrote a letter of thanks after his visit: “I offer my utmost thanks for the hospitality and tremendous kindness offered last Friday. It was truly an eye-opening experience to speak with the HPHS military students. I'm convinced I gleaned more from the encounter than the kids. In short, a number of issues were brought to my attention I'd never considered, particularly the array of challenges confronted by the sons and daughters of military families.”
In another celebration of veterans, The US Navy Band–Great Lakes will be performing a concert in the HPHS Main Auditorium on November 17th at 3:00 pm. This will be the fourth, and final, of a series of concerts that are being performed throughout the Chicago area in tribute to veterans and as a salute to Veterans Day. The concert is titled “Veterans Appreciation” and will include patriotic and historic music from 1812 to the present.
