They served with courage and deserve our heartfelt thanks

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow; Between the crosses, row on row; That mark our place; and in the sky; The larks, still bravely singing, fly; Scarce heard amid the guns below."

Honor Flights send veterans on the trip of a lifetime

There was a palpable buzz in the air as the crowd waving flags on the sidelines anticipated the coming procession. Upwards of 85 veterans of World War II, men and women from the Pacific and European theaters, escorted by honor guards, would be coming down the main concourse any minute. .

Today's the day for celebrating Moms of all ages

Moms everywhere are waking up to open this newspaper and take their minds off of the day ahead . Many will have their own Mother’s Day to celebrate, but also a celebration of their own mother’s work.

Demolition recalls roadside motels and batting cage home runs

Barb, my wife, left a section of the newspaper open on the dining room table the other day. The top headline didn’t interest me, and she had to literally open the paper up along the fold. There, staring me in the face, was another sign of my age, a link to the past.

Register to be an organ donor and give the gift of life

Do you find that you have become a little jaded when you come across testimonials on websites or in magazines about the value of such and such product or the opportunity to take part in some good cause? There is the smiling face and a quote that is meant to encapsulate the mission in the wor…

Head outdoors to make a difference in your yard and community

“I feel there's gonna be a change, but we're the ones gonna do it, not the government. With us there's a saying, ‘La esperenza muera ultima. Hope dies last.’ You can't lose hope. If you lose hope, you lose everything.”

Exhibit tells of ordinary Hoosiers who made extraordinary sacrifices

Commemorations and historical exhibits are often full of ironies and coincidences, both real and imagined. "The Civil War" exhibit opened Friday by the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is just such a case.

Streets and towns abound with names of our optimistic ancestors

I may have mentioned before that long ago I taught history in the Lake Central and Griffith school systems. I only think about it every other day now, rather than once a day when summer rolls around.

Telling the whole story must include pioneering women

Thirty years have passed since I sat in a high school classroom, at least as a student. Since then, of course, I continue adding to my vast store of knowledge.

Spring is a time of rebirth for flowers, baseball teams and runners

The signs are all there.

History comes to life for students pursuing their own interests

Parents, myself included, will often complain about the distractions that fill their children’s lives, including Xbox, Wii, texting, the internet and television. All are a sort of electronic escape.

Students keep history alive with competition projects

I have written extensively about the work of Tom Clark’s students at Lake Central High School and the Gold Star Memorial project. They were in the national spotlight with a segment on the CBS Evening News recently, and the feedback has been positive.

Preserving history is important ro all of us

As we close the celebration of Black History Month and head into Women’s History Month, it is notable that historic preservation is back in the news.

Students writing history will make history on national TV

Twenty-three years ago, during my teacher training days, I was assigned to Lake Central High School to sit in on a class taught by an experienced teacher, Tom Clark. I was to observe the way that he interacted with his students and his methodologies.

Saturday mail delvery goes the way of the caboose

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Leap into the Arts, no matter what your taste in music

When I was in college, I had an ongoing argument with a friend about music. We weren’t debating Springsteen vs. Led Zeppelin, but rather the meaning of music, but by the way, I was for the Springsteen while he was for Zeppelin.

February heading our way, but is spring far behind?

“There is no way that this winter is ever going to end as long as this groundhog keeps seeing his shadow. I don't see any other way out. He's got to be stopped. And I have to stop him.”

This inauguration has special meaning for a proud parent

With another U.S. presidential inauguration gala in the works for tomorrow, we take stock of where we are, with a hopeful eye to the future.

Infrastructure taken for granted, until it fails us

I was driving to work in downtown Chicago in 1992 when a report came over the radio. In effect, the radio announcer was warning commuters to avoid the area around Clark and Jackson, if my memory serves me correctly.

In Indiana, even a civics lesson can be about basketball

Now that the holiday festivities are over and the last of the Christmas decorations have been tucked away, we can get back to our daily lives. No Christmas shopping to worry about and no lights to hang up outdoors.

A salute to educators and caregivers for all they do

When Columbus sailed the ocean blue more than five centuries ago, he couldn’t have imagined what was on the other side of that horizon. Neither could he have imagined the energy, innovation and destruction that he would unleash in different measures.

Remembering Newtown victims, hoping for better times

I think most of us would agree that 2012 was a very busy year. The news was full of charges and counter-charges during the very heated election cycle, at federal, state and local levels – nobody escaped the spotlight.

Region full of good families headed by men like Deacon Jim

A wise man told me many years ago that when I passed a certain age, I would attend more funerals and wakes than baptisms and weddings. As I get older, I remember that old saw but forget who that wise man was. It may be just a figment of my overactive imagination.

'Tis the season for good cheer, and good works

Rumor has it that the first snow fall will come this week. If so, the holiday season will truly be upon us. With the recent mild weather, there has been plenty of time to put up outdoor decorations that pop up like stars sparkling in the night sky.

Movie tells of Lincoln, the end of slavery

I promised myself that I wouldn’t do this. I haven’t even seen the movie, but I have seen the trailers for it.

Remember women, children and seniors in need this season

For those of us that are fans of public television, the past week was a gift. In Ken Burn’s latest documentary, he covered the tragedy of The Dust Bowl and its effects on farmers and ranchers on the Great Plains. Like any story, there were layers to this tragedy that no four-hour documentary…

Giving thanks for the stories I told and the people I met

Every year I take time to give thanks for the stories that I have been able to tell you and the people that we have been fortunate to meet through this column. This year I decided to break it down into categories.

A day to salute veterans and those who support them

More cleanup on the East Coast this week and, of course, a reminder that important decisions do not wait for the next disaster.

Sometimes, it's good to be boring in the good old Midwest

“The Hudson River came in and filled half of Hoboken like a bathtub.”

Here's to a doer, not a talker, and the good he did

"Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say, why not”?

Midterms offer a time to look back at an action-packed year.

Area college students are preparing for midterms. Grade school through high school students, if they are fortunate, have just finished their Fall break. It is a good time to look back on what we all have accomplished so far this school year.

Take a walk and make a buddy today at the fairgrounds

My face may be different

Girls ands Buddies can run or walk for a good cause

The weather has cooled considerably, though we seem to be lacking in rain by quite a bit. With the last of this year's warm weather dwindling down to a precious few days, we appreciate the last of the outdoor events before having to don two layers and keep another on hand just in case.

Take a ride and help honor those who served this country

“As the inhabitants of the North Township repair to this park in the years to come, as they are reinvigorated in body and mind by its use, as they are moved by the memory of the heroic deeds of those to whom it is dedicated, may they become the partakers and promotes of a more noble, more ex…

Fight those statistics on the track or the trail

“How do you nurture a positive attitude when all the statistics say you're a dead man? You go to work.”

Constitution Day still has meaning for the U.S. 225 years later

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility ... do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.”

Campaign offers insight into how we choose government leaders

“It is compromise that prevents each set of reformers from crushing the group at the other end of the political spectrum.”

Community organizations build a future without brick and mortar

Labor Day is a celebration of all that we have created with our minds as well as our muscle. From small dreams and inspirations, we have created monuments to U.S.A. design and ingenuity.

Highland Soccer Palooza is about the love of the game

If the original "Rocky" movie was so good, why did they make another one? Why not stop with the perfect film?

As a new school year starts, reunion classes have stories to tell

The calendar has flipped to August, the locusts can be heard in the early evenings now – summer will pass into fall soon enough. We have to start that back to school shopping and clear our calendars. I, for one, will be busy with fourth- and eighth-grade math for the next nine months.

In praise of monuments, food and AC - not necessarily in that order

Back from our family's east coast swing, I can report that it is no fun to be without power in Washington D.C. There is, of course, the beauty of silence, but when the thermometer hits triple digits, we all can appreciate Air Conditioner Appreciation Month.

Gettysburg Battlefield reminds us of the freedoms we celebrate

Surprises are good. We like surprise birthday parties, an unexpected gift and even an unexpected telephone call from a long lost friend.

Vacations offer time to head east, west, south or lost

Funny thing about summer vacations, we are always in such a hurry for a break that we don’t realize when it has happened. We have been so busy with Highland Little League games, keeping our flowers from blowing away in a cloud of dust and other chores that I almost forgot that my sons are no…

Parents can be passionate, but need to set good examples

Being a parent is a never-ending learning experience. At no time have I ever thought that I had all the answers.

Honor those who served and still serve to keep U.S. free

If you get the chance this weekend, take in one of the many Memorial Day services for our local veterans.

Commuting during the NATO Summit, or will I get home before dawn?

On any given day, we all have obligations. They, may not be what we want to be doing at the moment but as parents, students, grandparents, teachers and everybody in between, we have things we are obligated to do.

Expect the most of young people and watch them soar

Over the last few years I have written many columns on school programs in this area. None make me prouder to live in this corner of the state than the accomplishments of Munster High School's We The People program.

Do your best at whatever your job may be and take a step

"Dad, I can't wait until I grow up. I want to drive, travel the world and do all the things adults do."

April is a month filled with promise and potential

April is an interesting month. When I was a kid, I looked forward to it because there was so much potential. You had the flowers blooming, the grass was finally visible after the Spring thaw and the first pitch in baseball. As I became older, the month took on more significance.

Students working hard to prepare for national competition

"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many ... is the very definition of tyranny."