HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY !!![/b]
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2462214,6_1_NA04_PAGE2COL_S1-100704.article
Giving thanks for the Fourth
July 4, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Sure the fireworks, food and fun help make July 4 the biggest birthday celebration of the year. But isn't Independence Day also another day of thanksgiving?
One can't help but have feelings of gratitude for our nation's founders -- those who sought, and won, America's freedom. And for those servicemen and women through the generations who sacrificed so much to ensure our country continued to remain the land of the free, home of the brave.
Those in the Armed Forces served -- and continue to do so -- when others don't, won't or can't.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about an amazing group of young people who have since left Naperville to begin their education and service at U.S. military academies. Seven area students went to West Point; four to the Naval Academy, and two to the Air Force Academy. The majority of those 13 students were nominated by U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, who noted it doesn't happen often that most of the students are from the same area. The students themselves seem surprised and impressed.
"It's quite an outstanding number of people from such a small number of schools," said Naperville North graduate Alec Carrier, who is now at West Point.
"It's just a testimony to how good our schools are and our community that we've put together such a great roster of people" that are willing to answer the call, said Dan Murphy, a Naperville Central grad also at West Point.
As I spoke with each student, I was moved by the level of maturity, courage and dedication behind their decisions to apply for the academies. For several, it had been a lifelong dream.
Take for instance, Benet Academy graduate John McLaughlin, for whom entering the service was always a given. Even as the War on Terror continues, the Naval Academy student said he's not worried about life after graduation. The main goal of his training, he said, is to prepare leaders for combat, he said.
"I know full well that I will be going into harm's way in four years," McLaughlin said last month. "I know what's going on, and I know that if the president calls on us we have to be ready to go at any time, no matter where he sends us."
For Naperville North student Shanon Lavin, though, it was a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Naval Academy while her family was in the area that brought her to this point. Like the others, she is not afraid of what the future will bring.
"The main thing is, I want to serve my country," Lavin said. "I'll just have to do my job and do my best at it."
Some students encountered challenges as they pursued their dreams. Neuqua Valley graduate Dan Meaney was appointed to the Naval Academy. But then a minor knee injury he received while running in an area forest preserve earlier this year automatically disqualified him from attending. He went to physical therapy for about six weeks, where he worked to undo the damage.
"It also made me realize how much I wanted to go there," Meaney said.
While his good friend Kevin Epp -- a fellow Neuqua grad -- always knew he wanted to attend West Point, the decision to accept the appointment to the Naval Academy wasn't automatic for Meaney.
"He knew early on he was going there," Meaney said of Epp. "Every day, he would ask me in the hallway if I decided yet, if I decided yet."
Once the decision was made, the friends began carrying on the tradition of the oldest rivalries.
"Every day in gym. It would be Army vs. Navy. It would be Army 1, Navy 0," Epp said.
He then admitted it was Meaney who won most of the time.
"It's all friendly competition," Epp said.
"He was still on my side," Meaney said of his decision. "And that just kind of reflects how the military is divided, but it acts as one."
United.