The word hope is a much used word by most of us, whether it’s for big or little things in our life. Hannah’s Hope is one of the biggies.
This beautiful little lady with the infectious smile, and gorgeous blue eyes was born with severe mental disabilities. In her short life, she touched more lives than many of us will all our lives. When her short life was over in July of 2012, her mom and dad wanted her life to have meaning, and Hannah’s Hope was born.
Along with family and friends, her life inspired them to help other children and families with disabilities so that Hannah will live forever in their hearts. This Saturday, November 12, at Portage High School Field House, the Annual Craft Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with all the profits helping local children with special needs. Admission is $1 for a fun day of shopping, and it even includes door prizes. A special treat this year will be a visit from Jared Arambula from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jared is a member of the wheelchair basketball team that took the gold medal at this year’s Paralympics, and he will be happy to chat with shoppers (and especially those with special needs), and smile into your camera. Hurry — the Fair is today, so get going!
Yesterday was Veterans Day, and there were many programs to honor all veterans throughout the nation. For the 26th year, the Valparaiso Noon Kiwanis Club invited all veterans to a special thank you luncheon at Old Town Banquet Center. The room was packed with veterans from every branch of the service. With the Posting of the Colors by the Valparaiso Police Department, the playing of the National Anthem (and everyone sang), a prayer and benediction by Porter County Sheriff Dave Reynolds, the Ben Franklin Middle School band playing patriotic music, including the songs of the Armed Forces and God Bless America, and a beautiful rendition of Taps played by Roger Leukens, it was a time for tears and goose bumps and a reminder to all of us how very thankful we should be for the men and women who are committed to keep us safe and free.
The guest speaker, Vietnam veteran, Lt. David Phillips kept the whole room in awe as he spoke about his active duty. It was no wonder he earned so many awards, including four Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. God has blessed America!
This is a big thank you to everyone involved with the Chicago Cubs ‘ whether they were players, coaches, staff members, or behind the scenes assistants — for bringing so much joy to all of us, and bringing a fantastic break in the political mumbo-jumbo. The whole weekend was filled with smiles, laughter, high fives, and cheers mixed with tears.
Then, along came Tuesday, and whomever you chose to vote for, the shock was nationwide. Never before has there ever been a worse political atmosphere, and I just hope and pray that, as days go by, we will once more become a country that can come together in the worst of times, and be one nation under God.
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To me, those four words have never been more meaningful for our country. It’s time to swallow our divisiveness, and work together to make America strong, and that can only happen if, from the CEOs to the factory workers, from the millionaires to the welfare recipients, from the teens to the elderly, choose to go hand in hand into the future of the country we all love.
I so hope you are ready to shake hands with your opponents, and then I hope you have a great day because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag.
Lorrie Woycik is a freelance columnist for the Post-Tribune.