Flossmoor Veterans' Time Machine Wins Illinois State Historical Society Award

FLOSSMOOR, IL — Flossmoor Veterans’ Memorial, Inc. (FVM) has won a 2024 “Best of Illinois History” award in Public and Educational Programming from the Illinois State Historical Society for its eighth-grade “Flossmoor Veterans’ Time Machine” local history program.

Launched in partnership with Flossmoor School District 161’s Parker Junior High School, the Time Machine provided seven days of local history coursework focusing on the role of Flossmoor veterans in service to the United States Armed Forces. Special emphasis was placed on the service of five World War II servicemen who perished and one World War II prisoner of war. The curriculum also recognized Vietnam Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Lemon, whose plane was shot down over Laos in 1971 and whose body has never been recovered; Fireman Apprentice Darryl Dushon Edwards, H-F High School’s first Black serviceman who perished in a peacetime accident in the South China Sea; and Lieutenant Commander Patrick Jude Murphy, who perished in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

FVM developed teacher and student workbooks, interactive PowerPoint slide shows, lists of primary resource materials, and Americans with Disabilities-accessible videos on these servicemen. The Time Machine was designed in conjunction with District 161’s shift to standards-based learning and grading, which is a new approach to assessing the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students should be able to demonstrate after learning new material.

Retired Flossmoor Mayor Paul Braun, who serves as FVM’s president, and Dr. Kristine Condon, FVM’s secretary-treasurer, met with District 161 faculty during this past fall’s teacher inservice to introduce the curriculum and to provide assistance. Braun, Condon, and Wally Burns VFW Commander John Beele returned to Parker in October 2024 to launch the program to 300 eighth-grade and seventh-grade humanities students. FVM also provided on-site support to teachers and students as they worked through the curriculum.

At the conclusion of the Veterans’ Time Machine unit, each student completed a report, interview, project, or other artifact demonstrating their newly developed knowledge, skills, and abilities. In addition, each classroom received a 3D printed replica of the proposed Flossmoor Veterans’ Wall of Honor. Students then designed and decorated their own custom Walls of Honor, focusing on the symbolism of their choices. Seven submitted 3D replicas were put on display at the Flossmoor Public Library during November 2024, with the community participating in online “fan favorite” voting. The winning replica earned a classroom pizza party courtesy of Aurelio’s in Homewood. The second-place classroom earned Rainbow Cone Kids Kash from Buona Beef/Rainbow Cone in Flossmoor.

“FVM’s mission statement focuses on community engagement, education, and civic awareness of this effort,” said Braun. “We are thrilled with the level of interest and commitment our School District 161 scholars demonstrated to become more engaged citizens.”

District 161 Superintendent Dr. Dana Smith agreed.

“The Flossmoor Veterans’ Time Machine helped to prepare our students to enter high school with an appreciation for the service of our local veterans and an emphasis on preserving their important stories. We’re proud to have collaborated with FVM on such a meaningful project.”

Student feedback at the end of the unit will be used to improve the content for the next school year, Braun said. Nearly one-third of students participating completed the survey, with data being shared with District 161 for assessment purposes. Braun said, “I was so impressed by how seriously our students accepted the challenge of researching and preserving our history. Our students are the next generation of community leaders, and we are so proud of their efforts.”

FVM and Flossmoor School District 161 will receive their “Best of Illinois History” award at an April 26 luncheon hosted by the Illinois State Historical Society in Springfield. Construction of the Flossmoor Veterans’ Wall of Honor is scheduled to begin soon. The Wall of Honor will be a tribute to all current and former Flossmoor residents who are serving or have served in our nation’s Armed Forces.

For more information, visit @honoringflossmoorvets on Facebook/Instagram, @FlossmoorVWH on Twitter/X, https://flossmoorvets.square.s... on the Web, or flossmoorvets@gmail.com via e-mail.