Johnsburg Junior High social worker Nikki Brosh brings trauma-informed education practices, years of experience working with troubled kids to her school

Manuel Gonzalez started off as a custodian in Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47. Now, he’s a dual language teacher at the district’s Canterbury Elementary School.

District 158 Huntley special education teacher Jennifer Slad braves a bald haircut for the third time in honor of her former student who battled a rare brain tumor as a baby.

Robin Berry spent much of her law career defending juveniles. She uses those real-life scenarios from the courtroom in the classroom as a teacher and full-time department chair and instructor.

Amber Bauman teachers middle school math in Crystal Lake has spent nearly a lifetime teaching, both in the classroom and the horse arena.

Tammy Nobbe teaches children six days per week – five at her job at the Cary Park District preschool and Sunday school at Bethany Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake.

Lorraine Egan was still at Crystal Lake Central High School when Pearl Harbor was bombed and she decided to joined the Navy's as among the first of the WAVES units.

Peter Cirelli reflects on time in WWII as he ran a Toyko kitchen for Army General Douglas MacArthur and created unlikely friendships.

Veteran and Island Lake resident Robin Waltrip paved the way for woman in the army and she’s still making a difference by helping out with Habitat for Humanity.

Scores of McHenry County men fought for the Union side during the Civil War, and in many other conflicts throughout history.

A Huntley-area sewing group honors veterans in its own way – with handmade quilts.

Richard Phannenstill worked for decades to raise funds for a memorial honoring his classmates who died in Vietnam. A portion of those funds, raised 10 years ago, went to Veterans Path to Hope this year.

Diane Ahrens spent 15 years shipping goodie boxes to troops overseas while running her East Dundee bakery. When she closed the business, she found another way to give back to those who have given of themselves to the country.

Chaplain Ken Hauser, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Viet Nam where half his unit was killed or injured, has prayed with countless number of veterans and civilians grieving and struggling with personal conflicts.

Longtime Crystal Lake resident Donna Vestal comes from a long line of veterans, and her daughter also had a long military career: “I think everybody should go.”