MOOSEHEART, IL - With its usual combination of patriotism and reverence, Mooseheart's student body honored Memorial Day in advance, on May 18 at the campus' House of God.

The service, which usually takes place at the small cemetery on campus, was moved because of a fallen tree in the cemetery. But the series of readings, from Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" to Memorial Day comments delivered by President Barack Obama a year ago in New Mexico, still took place as scheduled.

At the end of the service, Mooseheart sophomore Santana Sanchez placed a wreath on the altar in honor of Mooseheart's graduates who have fallen in combat.

The service ended after senior Nate Chavez played "Taps" in a trumpet duet with band director Steve Schmidt.

May Events at Mooseheart

• May 20: Mooseheart Honors and Awards Program, Fieldhouse, 9:30 a.m.
  
  
• May 22: Mooseheart Fifth and Eighth Grade Promotion, Sheraton Hotel Ballroom, 301 E. North Water St., Chicago, 2 p.m.
  
  
• May 22-27: 2009 International Convention, Loyal Order of Moose and Women of the Moose, Chicago.
  
  
• May 23: Mooseheart High School Commencement, at Fieldhouse, 9 a.m., followed by conferral of the College of Regents Degree of the Women of the Moose, 11 a.m. at the Fieldhouse, and conferral of the Pilgrim Degree of the Loyal Order of Moose, noon at the House of God.

Mooseheart Child City & School is a 1,000-acre community and school for children and teens in need of a secure home, located just south of Batavia, IL, between Illinois Route 31 and Randall Road.

Founded in 1913, Mooseheart is supported completely through private donations - the great majority of which come from the 1.1 million men and women of the Moose fraternal organization, in more than 1,800 Lodges and 1,600 Chapters located throughout the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Bermuda. Moose International headquarters is located on the Mooseheart campus.

Since its founding, Mooseheart has operated a complete, accredited kindergarten-through-high-school academic program, plus art, music, vocational training and interscholastic sports. It is an extremely nurturing and student-tailored program, with an average student-teacher ratio of 12-1.

Mooseheart students who complete their studies with a 3.0 GPA or better (4.0=A) are eligible for up to five years of annually renewable scholarship funding, covering tuition, room and board in an amount comparable to that required for an in-state student at an Illinois public university.

Mooseheart is currently home to nearly 230 students, ranging in age from preschoolers to high school seniors. Applications for admission to Mooseheart are considered from any family whose children are, for whatever reason, lacking a stable home environment. Mooseheart boasts its own U.S. Post Office and a fully functioning branch of Fifth Third Bank.

In addition to Mooseheart, Moose International also supports Moosehaven, a 70-acre retirement community near Jacksonville, FL founded in 1922; and conducts more than $90 million worth of community service programs annually.

Founded in 1888, the Moose organization has long offered its members an opportunity to do good for others while celebrating life, with family, social, and sporting activities. For more information on the Moose organization, visit the websites at www.mooseintl.org , www.mooseheart.org., www.moosehaven.org, or call 630-966-2229.