By DAVID RYNES | Tomah
Last week I was asked to help with the Brookwood homecoming parade in Wilton. At first I was a little apprehensive in accepting the offer. It took Wilton Police Chief Jeremy Likely a few minutes of convincing for me to accept, as it has been since 2006 that I worked in law enforcement in the Kickapoo Valley.
As I arrived, “Wilton’s quiet,” I thought. I exited my car and walked the streets with Officer Jesse Haney. I started to feel a little at home, walking the streets in a law enforcement role. I spoke to a few old friends and family as I went. Many asked what I have been up to; many just wanted to talk of times past.
As the parade started, I took my position of stopping traffic on Highway 71. Then, as the kids started to make their way down the parade route, I recalled that my own children once were in this parade. Those days are long gone. Then a great surprise came when a young female from one of the classes yelled, “Thanks for your service!” Then she waved at me with a huge smile. “How rewarding it is to attend the parade,” I thought, and, “What a great day it is in the Kickapoo Valley … ”
I want to extend a huge thank you to the parents and the Brookwood staff for instilling values into our children, especially with the events that are going on our world today.
