On Memorial Day, I traveled out to Hoffman Estates to honor our service men and women who died in action as well as to recognize those currently serving and our veterans. I enjoyed researching the history of the day and was proud to find that Illinois’ own John A. Logan was instrumental in garnering national attention and participation. I encouraged my audience to take this day as a reminder to ask our local heroes about their experiences and to share the stories of the fallen. It is through these stories that their memories live on and they shall not have died in vain. The reception afterward was wonderful and I was happy to meet so many patriots in Hoffman Estates!
Wrapping up the school year, I spoke at St. John’s Lutheran in Elgin and Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge. Great audiences as always but, even after all the schools I’ve done, these two still surprised me. At St. John’s, I did my first presentation ever in the pulpit of a church and at Pleasantdale I judged their amazing talent show! I have to give a “shout out” to “Four Bullets Left”, an 8th grade band that handed me a signed mini guitar afterward! (I remained objective in my scoring of course!) Thank you to Jennifer and Mike for a great lunch as well.
I was thrilled to be able to spend so many of my last days as Miss Illinois with our National Partner to raise funds for a Children’s Miracle Network hospital. I signed autographs and took photos at a Chicago Costco and participated in one of my favorite appearances to date. On Sunday, I spent the entire day speaking Spanish at the La Que Buena Radiothon in the Little Village of Chicago and loved every second of it. I signed autographs and took photos with the adorable children who came “por los ninos” and even conducted an entire interview on air in Spanish! I was terrified to go on stage to speak but everyone encouraged me to say what I could and to switch to English if I was at a loss for words. “El Pistolero” was the nationally syndicated host who interviewed me and I even got to meet one of the stars from “La Nuestra Belleza Latina”- a cross between a beauty pageant and a reality show that airs on Univision! It was wonderful to see the generosity of so many individuals and to see the community come together to support Children’s.
My path happily crossed with Joe Cantafio and the 101st Rock Division band at the Chicago Machine Lacrosse game. They were awesome, as always, and I found myself singing along with the great classic rock they played! I had a great time greeting the fans and was happy to attend my first ever lacrosse game AND my first trip to Soldier Field!
I wrapped up this week with the Little Miss Wonder Lake Pageant. In their inaugural year, the pageant was beautifully run and every detail was taken care of! I was head judge with two other community members and we listened as the 5-7-year-olds answered questions about themselves, their pets, and their annoying brothers and sisters. Little Miss Wonder Lake was the epitome of the kind of self-esteem and confidence building experience that children’s pageants should be (no makeup or crazy dresses) and I was happy to be a part of such a positive experience for these girls.
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