John Schurict-Head, a second-grader at School District 170's Kennedy School, appeared before the Chicago Heights City Council on April 18th and petitioned the august body to create a "First Responder's Day" to add to the municipal calendar.
Mayor David Gonzalez and council members approved Head's request, and the city's initial "First Responder Day" honoring police, fire, paramedic, and auxiliary personnel will be conducted on April 27th, coinciding with the student's birthday.
The council chambers rang with applause as the members of the audience, including 20 first responders, acknowledged Shuricht-Head's efforts.
Schuricht-Head, a student in Jennifer Kerr's second-grade classroom, is the grandson of long-time School District 170 teacher and administrator Barbara McCulley and is the son of Lana Head, a teacher at the district's Jefferson School.
"The genesis of this idea came from John 's participation in a Veteran's Day celebration at school and later wondering why First Responders didn't have a day of their own," said McCulley.
"Once he got the idea for honoring the First Responders his first act was to visit different First Responder sites to provide "Munchkin" donuts and extend his thanks for all their efforts."
In recognition of his efforts, Fourth Ward Alderman Josh Deabel presented Shuricht-Head with the Outstanding Community Service Award at a ceremony held late in 2017.
"From that very first experience John became committed to seeing that a day honoring the police, fire, and emergency service personnel who serve our city became a yearly event," Lana Head noted.
Kennedy School Principal Artis McCann praised Shuricht-Head for his efforts.
"John is an extremely conscientious young man and his efforts to reward the First Responders who keep our community safe reflect that fact," she said.
"His commitment to recognizing the worth of others reflects well on lessons he has learned at home and Kennedy School."