FISHER HOUSE - HELPING MILITARY FAMILIES

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Classrooms were strangely quiet throughout St. Francis Xavier School in La Grange Friday, as students were out following the example of their school’s namesake, a 16th century missionary and minister to those in need.

Students wearing T-shirts that read, “Go set the world on fire,” boarded buses for different destinations according to topics each grade level had been studying throughout the year.

Second-graders focusing on education visited the Congregation of St. Joseph in LaGrange Park to learn about the sisters’ School on Wheels, a mobile classroom, and make Christmas cards and ornaments for nearly 500 clients of the school.

Sixth-graders went bowling in Willowbrook with adults with special needs who take part in the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation.

And fifth-graders learning to appreciate the sacrifices of service men and women visited the Fisher House at the Hines Veterans Administration Hospital near Maywood.

Like the Ronald McDonald House for families needing a place to stay while visiting a hospitalized child, the Fisher House is for families of hospitalized veterans, students learned.

“This is an inviting place for someone with a sick member of the family,” said fifth-grader Allison Wallis of La Grange after a tour of the elegantly decorated guest house that can accommodate up to 20 families visiting patients at Hines.

Earlier in the morning, students brought in items and decorated gift bags for families staying at the Fisher House.

“We put in crossword puzzle books, a toothbrush and toothpaste, mugs, cards, journals, a water bottle and pens,” Allison said.

Classmate Katherine Kent of LaGrange Park said the group also included prayer stars, which were decorated in red, white and blue with a prayer pasted on for service men and women.

“We all learned it from memory, and we pray it every morning, all year long,” Katherine explained. “Our grade is learning about veterans and what they do for us.”

While some students got a peek at a bedroom where families stay, others decorated a poster for Fisher House visitors and hung red, white and blue ornaments on a small tree.

“We learned how veterans served our country and how they made sacrifices,” said Meghan McVady of LaGrange Park. “We had one come and talk this morning about how his tank tipped over and how he got hurt and had to go to the hospital.”

Fisher House manager Holly Wright told the students their gifts and efforts were appreciated by families who sometimes didn’t expect to stay there and didn’t have time to pack necessary items.

“We have 19 of 20 bedrooms filled, and a family will be checking in later today,” Wright said. “We celebrate all the holidays just like you do at home. We want them to feel special and thank them for their hard work of taking care of their family member.”

Fifth-graders also made cards and decorated a banner for the American Red Cross to distribute to service men and women on active duty.

“I drew a Christmas tree and said thank you for keeping us safe,” said Grace Reilly of La Grange.”

Liam Collins of LaGrange Park said he, too, appreciated solders’ sacrifices.

“Veterans are very important. They help keep our country going and keep us safe,” Liam said. “Their families are also very important, and that’s why we have a special place like Fisher House for them.”

As students boarded buses for school again, parent chaperones, who had snapped photos e-mailed them back to a volunteer coordinator putting together a slide show of all the grades’ service efforts throughout the day. Students, parents and teachers gathered for a Mass to close the day and see photos of what others had done.

The Mass was celebrated in honor of St. Francis Xavier, whose feast day is Dec. 2. He was instructed in 1540 to set the world on fire by spreading the gospel message.

“We believe that serving others sincerely and joyfully does have the power to set the world on fire, and we feel privileged to have all of our students involved in meaningful service opportunities,” said Principal Debra Rodde.

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