Flossmoor Veterans' Memorial Continues Local History Unit At Parker Jr. High And IJP School

FLOSSMOOR, IL — Students at Flossmoor’s Infant Jesus of Prague School will join Flossmoor District 161 eighth-graders to learn about the community’s veteran contributions with a local history curriculum designed by Flossmoor Veterans’ Memorial, Inc.

Retired Flossmoor Mayor Paul Braun, who serves as FVM president, and FVM Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Kristine Condon first introduced a specially designed local history curriculum to Parker Junior High social studies faculty in 2024. The curriculum, called The Flossmoor Veterans’ Time Machine, is based heavily upon Fragments of Flossmoor, Condon’s 2024 book benefiting the FVM Wall of Honor project. The curriculum 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 curriculum material. All Parker eighth-graders and seventh-grade humanities students participated in the Veterans’ Time Machine during the 2024-2025 school year. For 2025-2026, IJP School students will join Parker students to learn from a program that received a 2025 “Best of Illinois History” award from the Illinois State Historical Society.

"Since our 2021 incorporation, FVM’s goal has been to build a Wall of Honor that recognizes the service of nearly 1,000 Flossmoor residents who have served our Armed Forces with distinction," said Braun. "However, the second portion of our mission statement focuses on community engagement, education, and civic awareness of this effort. Our corporate Board of Directors believes that sharing these contributions with the Village’s eighth-graders will enhance their interest in Flossmoor and will make them more engaged citizens."

Condon, a retired community college legal studies and civics educator, agreed that civics literacy begins in our neighborhoods and communities.

"Both District 161 and IJP School are to be commended for their creativity and commitment to local history," she said. "This program can be replicated with other history-based nonprofit partnerships and school districts, and last year’s student feedback shows we’ve struck a chord with the students. The Flossmoor Veterans’ Time Machine education curriculum takes our Wall of Honor efforts to a whole new level."

Students will have the opportunity to select an individual project that will meet their interests and will strengthen their skills in researching and evaluating resources. They will also work in small groups to create custom replicas of the Veterans’ Wall of Honor. Those replicas will be on display at Flossmoor Public Library during May 2026 for National Military Appreciation Month.

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