"Highwood For The Holidays" Embraces Local Military Personnel From Great Lakes Naval Base & Fort Sheridan Reserve This Holiday Season

HIGHWOOD, IL (DECEMBER 2, 2012) – As people everywhere make plans to spend their holidays with family, the City of Highwood is recognizing the servicemen and women stationed in nearby Naval Station Great Lakes and Fort Sheridan Reserve with a celebration to make them feel at home in Highwood for the Holidays. The Highwood community will embrace over 300 military personnel at the fourth annual Highwood for the Holidays, taking place on December 2ndfrom 3-6pm at City Hall Park (17 Highwood Avenue). The City will be transformed into a winter wonderland complete with food and live holiday music provided by Highwood’s own Matt Feddermann and Friends, and special addresses to the military from local dignitaries.

“We are encouraging all members of Highwood and our surrounding communities to come out and show their appreciation to the military men and women who stand in uniform to protect and defend the liberties, and the way of life, we so dearly cherish,” states Mayor Pecaro.

The day will kick off with the Military coming to town around noon to receive gift certificates to use at the many restaurants and businesses. The community is also invited to come out between 3-5pm to dine and decorate luminaries that will line the streets and light the way as the soldiers march in cadence through town.

Local dignitaries will address the Military personnel at the honorary ceremony from 5-5:30pm. The troops will then march in cadence along the lighted luminary path to Oak Terrace Elementary School (240 Prairie Avenue), where an exclusive dinner, supplied by local restaurants, will be held at 6pm.

“Highwood has a tradition of supporting the military that goes back before General Patton, and our school is honored to play a part in hosting service personnel for the holidays. If we can brighten their spirits in any small way, we will feel like our holidays have meaning.” Says Sandy Anderson, Principal at Oak Terrace Elementary School.

There is no cost to attend, however, Highwood is asking local residents and businesses to sponsor Highwood for the Holiday gift certificates that will be given to the military. These gift certificates can be used at local businesses throughout the day to help in purchasing gifts for their friends and family, to enjoy a meal in Highwood, or to utilize any other of the many services Highwood businesses offer.

Gift certificates may be purchased beforehand in $10 increments online at:http://www.eventzilla.net/web/event?EventID=2138965428, or the day of the event.

For more information on all of Highwood’s festivals, please visitwww.CelebrateHighwood.com, or call 847-432-6000. For updates on all Celebrate Highwood events, please visit the City of Highwood Facebook page, or follow Celebrate Highwood @CityofHighwood on Twitter.

ABOUT THE CITY OF HIGHWOOD

Highwood was founded in 1868 by William Wallace Everts, a Chicago civic leader and world-renown educator. His concept of a family-based community has endured for more than a century. The beautiful Everts Park, in the heart of downtown Highwood, has been named in the founder's honor. Benches and trees in the park celebrate and remember people who, through turbulent times and peaceful ones, built and sustained the community. Many of Highwood's street names recall Everts' family and friends whom the founder encouraged to build homes here. Residents of Swedish, Irish, Italian, Latino and other heritages have since populated the community, each enriching the community through their cultural traditions.

The Village of Highwood was incorporated in 1887. The name briefly became Village of Fort Sheridan and then City of Fort Sheridan. In 1904, the community officially became known as the City of Highwood. Fort Sheridan, a former army base slightly northeast of the City, has had a profound influence on Highwood's development, and it continues to do so today as part of its land, incorporated into the City, nearly doubled Highwood in size. Today, Highwood is blending the past and present with exciting new plans for its future.

The City of Highwood, IL administrative offices are located at 17 Highwood Avenue, Highwood, Illinois 60040. For more information, please visit www.cityofhighwood.com. Tel: 847.432.1924.