Letters: Thanks for remembering
December 29, 2012 12:12AM
Updated: January 31, 2013 6:21AM
On Jan. 11, 1973, our father, James P. Zeiger, was killed in the line of duty at Stateville Prison. It was a cowardly attack from behind by an inmate. There are people who do not realize that, in due time, wounds heal, but sometimes they just do not.
This story was front-page news back then in The Herald-News and other Chicago newspapers as well as state and national news. At that time, it was an unthinkable act of violence against a person who was happily married and a father of eight. Throughout the years, our family has remembered the plaque that was placed in Stateville Prison to honor our father. Since that time, all of his children have grown to become parents and grandparents and we share our story of how much we miss our dad.
On Dec. 1, Stateville Prison welcomed my family to view our father’s plaque but this time with his grandchildren — now adults — and their children. It was a very emotional moment for our family to see the plaque with our loved ones.
The staff at Stateville welcomed us with open arms and gave us VIP treatment through this emotional day. They could see how much this meant to our family.
On Jan. 11, it will be the 40th anniversary of that tragic day that can linger for a lifetime and beyond. We would like to thank the staff at Stateville Prison, including Warden (Marcus) Hardy and Deputy Director David Gomez, with very special thanks to administrative assistant Kevin Senor for arranging this day.
Lucille Zeiger and the extended family of James P. Zeiger
Romeoville
I will proudly run for Izzo
I would like to thank Herald-News reporter Dick Goss for the important article he wrote (Nov. 11) about the “Run For Izzo” group that ran in the Washington, D.C., Marine Corps Marathon for the Marfan Foundation and about his friend and colleague Gene Seymour, who passed way from Marfan’s Syndrome (a heart condition).
Gene was an outstanding writer and a good listener. I spoke to him many times in my years as a local coach. He always made me feel like my teams and results were important.
Mindy Izzo was the organizer for the group that ran in D.C. She also has worked tirelessly to help the Marfan Foundation. She began the “Run For Izzo” charity two years ago after her husband, Jeremy, a beloved JCA teacher and coach, passed away from Marfan’s. Mindy was recently recognized with the “Outstanding Service Award” by the Marfan Foundation. She has shown all of us that when tragedy occurs become pro-active. She is an inspiration to all of us at JCA and locally.
My inspiration/lesson from all of this? I will proudly run future races in my dark red “Run For Izzo” shirt in honor of, not only Jeremy, but for my wife, Lucy, who passed away from heart failure seven years ago.
Besides myself, Mindy Izzo and Jason Midlock, other local runners who ran in the Marine Corps Marathon for the “Run For Izzo” charity were Michael Delrose, Kristina Wilson, Ray Liberatore Jr. and Andrea Clark.
Mark Clarke
Joliet Catholic Academy
The evil must stop
Another terrible criminal act. First, it was Columbine High School in Colorado, where two killers in full tactical arsenal killed innocent students and teachers. The second act was at Virginia Tech, one lone killer, who first killed two, then went to the post office to mail something, and returned to the school, killing 30.
In both cases, there was a security breach and no metal detectors.
In a small town in Connecticut, the killer murdered his mother. After that, he went to the school — perhaps breaking a window to get inside. Once inside, he started to do his killings. However, a custodian ran to warn the teachers of the killer.
Still, he killed 20 children and seven adults after which he committed suicide. The killer was 24 years old. If only his mother would have turned him in to the police, we would not be in this sad moment of innocent children being massacred.
However, sometimes parents fear their sons will turn on them and retaliate and they become vicious killers.
God help us, it is a growing trend. If we do not get parents’ cooperation, this will happen again. These experiences have left a traumatic impact on the surviving children’s minds forever.
Schools must find a better security system — buzz-in entrances with security at all main entrances.
Perhaps the man’s mother was under pressure by her wicked, evil-minded son to buy these weapons. We’ll never know. Parents, wake up to reality in these evil times. Let’s all work together in fighting this evil and use Jesus Christ and God as a shield.
Felipe “Phil” Garcia
Joliet
