Volume 51 Issue 3
Downers Grove South High School
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Dec. 18, 2015
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Downers Grove growing peace in new memorial gardens well as teach students about the magnitude of human decision making. The idea for the Memorial Peace Gardens was first initiated by DGN Social Studies Department Head Jenne Dehmlow. Esposito explains how the idea for the Peace Gardens came to DGS.
ning, joint project. We’re going to do all of this together.” Esposito said. The gardens will not only impact the families of those who have lost members but also numerous students around the district. For students like Connor Keegan, who has plans on serving the country after high school,
stuff out of there,” Esposito said. The schools must raise $50,000 in order to fund both projects. In order to help reach this goal, the proceeds n order to commemorate the sacfrom the annual charity assembly in rifices that nearly 70 Downers Grove March will go towards raising money alumni have made and promote the for the Memorial Peace Gardens. Stuidea of peace around the community, dent Activities Director John Aldworth DGN and DGS are teaming up to explains ways in which they plan build Memorial Peace Gardens. on raising the money and how stuThe gardens will honor those dents can get involved. who lost their lives and serve as “We’re going to reach out to a permanent reminder to our stucorporations in Downers Grove dents of the ultimate sacrifices that would be interested in helpthat were made. Social Studies ing support,” Aldworth said, “We Department Head Christopher are having a lot of events in FebruEsposito explains the idea behind ary and March to raise money for making these gardens. whatever school wide philanthro“We want this to be an opportupy we have. There is a dodgeball nity for us to both remember peotournament, the Mr. Mustang pagple but also to teach the imporeant, the daddy daughter dance tance of peace in our society and [and] there’s a basketball game really that war should be a last on January 29th against Proviso option,” Esposito said. “When East, a lot of money from that will we talk about war in our classes, be donated.” Aldworth said. there is this idea that it’s kind of With nearly 1.2 million soldier a game, and our students don’t deaths from American wars, it really get it. There are real conseems nearly impossible to remain sequences to it, these are conuntouched by the impacts of war. sequences our community has Senior Kylie Wild explains how the felt.” gardens will hold a special place for Since the inception of the Comher family. munity High School District 99, “My grandparents both went into hundreds of thousands of stu- The top picture is what DGS’s West events entrance currently looks like before the gardens, and then the bot- the army, so I have some history dents have passed through the tom picture is the hope of what the gardens will look like when they are finished by Memorial Day weekend. background with this. A lot of bustling hallways of DGS, sat people just remember these kids Photo by Michelle Hroma in the very same seats as students now “[Dehmlow] has been involved in the gardens hold as kids who just served our country and ventured into their own worlds, building two of them -- one at Wheaton an especially deep meaning. which is great, but they also have a each person following their own paths Warrenville South and one at Naper“Now, on the brink of entering the story and deserved to be remembered in life -- however, a handful of them ville North . In terms of the involve- service myself, although I am not there in every way possible,” Wild said. went on to ment, she had yet, I am grateful as well as humbled Aside from being a peaceful place to fight for the to talk to her by this motion made by our communi- self-reflect, the gardens will also serve country and d e p a r t m e n t ty. It shows me that the community as a bigger role within the community. never reabout it and a whole respects those who gave their “I think this is a great way for people turned. [then] she had lives in the line of duty and acknowl- to come together and recognize those The memotold me about edges the sacrifices that are made by we have lost for their service. This rial will be it.” joining the military,” Keegan said peace garden gives all people not only built in the Esposito says Although building each garden will the opportunity to mourn those who West Events that he became be a major goal that both schools must have given their lives, but to thank and Entrance by interested in the mustang the idea after statue. Peace hearing about “We want this to be an opportunity for us Poles, which the idea from to both remember people, but also to teach are monuDehmlow and ments, will proceeded to the importance of peace in our society and displays the invite her to really that war should be a last option.” words “May pitch the idea Peace Prevail to the DGS So- -Dr. Esposito on Earth” in cial Studies Demultiple lanpartment. work hard to achieve, they are not appreciate what this sacrifice means,” guages will “She came alone in creating the Memorial Peace Keegan said. be included over and pre- Gardens. The landscaping company For more information students and in the garsented the idea Grant & Power has donated nearly faculty can visit the D99 Peace Garden. Esposito to our Depart- $25,000 worth of labor, materials and dens Facebook and Twitter pages and hopes that ment [and] time to the building process. DGS stu- access their website through the DGS by building they were very dents also have the chance to get in- home page to take a virtual walkThe Memorial Peace Gardens hold a special meaning the memorial interested and volved in creating the peace gardens. through of what the Memorial Peace for Senior Conner Keegan who plans on joining the peace gardens military after high school. we all jumped “I think that there will probably be Gardens will look like. Photo by Susan Owano right on board. room for students to be involved in the outside of the Contact Asma at West Events Entrance, it can leave Ever since the very beginning after the demolition process of it -- all the pullazam2301@csd99.org students with a long-lasting impact as idea was pitched, it’s been joint plan- ing and hauling and getting all that old
By Asma Zaman, News Editor
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