Not just for the boys
Helen Deal and her daughter Michelle Wilson came all the way from Waukegan for the annual event. Helen and her husband Stuart (not in the photo) sell pedal tractors and pedal parts and 1/16 scale toys. They offer pretty much anything with farm trucks and tractors specializing in precision. You can contact them at 1(847) 244-7746.

Toys for the big kids
Actually, it is more of a collector show than a toy show, when people from all over Illinois and Wisconsin come to Boone County and hold their annual toy show in the Big Thunder Grange Building. George Morgan is checking out a few of the miniatures displayed for sale. He is one of the organizers of the event and a member of the grange.

First year marching
Belvidere High School Freshman Christy Spurlock is walking in the Veteran's Parade for the first time this year. She has been playing the clarinet since she was eight years old. She waves a quick hello as she sees her Mom in the crowd near the bridge.Barbara Washburn
Photos

Freedom is never free Chaplain Roger Myers from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1461 offered this years' Veteran's Day prayer. In the background are Gold Star Sisters Anna Castro, Helen Kjos and Kay Bodey who casted wreaths upon the water in memory of all veterans who gave their life for our freedom. Barbara Washburn Photos

A bitter sweet moment
"But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for,
Is their monument to-day, and for aye." ~Thomas Dunn English
Playing Taps during the Veteran's Day ceremony on Belvidere's State Bridge last Saturday was Belvidere High School Band Member Ryan Trumbo.

Many present at Belvidere's annual Veteran's Day Parade
"But fame is theirs - and future days
On pillar'd brass shall tell their praise;
Shall tell - when cold neglect is dead -
"These for their country fought and bled."
~Philip Freneau
The annual Veteran's Day parade took place last Saturday, November 11. Among many other veterans and local clubs, the parade included members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1461 and American Legion Post 77 Members. Barbara Washburn Photo

Good hearted donors
In this photo Codee is shown with half of his hair cut off and holding the other half in his hand. Standing behind him is my eight year old daughter Anna pointing at her own hair. She had donated ten inches of her own to Locks of Love for the second time in her life just days before.
Barbara Washburn Reporter

Way to go Codee!
Shown in the photo is Codee Watson getting his hair cut off for Locks of Love with his hair dresser Kim Goetz of Abracadabra in Belvidere.

Growing his hair for Locks of Love

Belvidere.  Many of us Boone County residents have seen Codee Watson running up and down basket ball courts and football fields with his long red and wavy hair flying behind him. However, for now the young athlete will be wearing his hair much shorter.

Belvidere High School Sophmore and well known athlete Codee Watson had been growing his hair since February 2005 for one big goal: he was wanting to give it to Locks of Love in Florida, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss. Last Saturday, the sixteen year old made the appointment at Abracadabra Hair Salon in Belvidere and had the minimum ten inches cut off, so it could be send in for a donation.

Locks of Love meets a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses they create help to restore children's self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers. Locks of Love is not a manufacturer of any type of hair replacement product or hair care product. It is not associated with or an affiliate of any for-profit hair replacement business. Furthermore, none of its employees or members of the Board of Directors is associated with any company in the hair replacement or hair care industries.

Codee Watson says he will do it all again and grow another ten inches of extra hair he then plans to donate to Locks of Love. Way to go Codee! If anyone is interested to do the same, they can easily contact their beautician for further details or call Locks of Love direct at (888) 896-1588.