Ryan Yantis, Lt. Col., U.S. Army (retired) was the guest speaker on November 11th, as part of RBMS’ Veteran’s Day Activities. He spoke to the entire student body about what he experienced at the Pentagon on September 11th, as it was attacked. Mr. Yantis served over 22 years in the U.S. Army, first as a Cavalry officer and later as a Public Affairs Officer.  He served in Bosnia, Zaire, Rwanda and other countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.  His assignments included duties in New York City, the Pentagon and Chicago.  He was in the Pentagon assigned to the Army Staff during the 9-11 Attack and was decorated for his actions on that day.  He facilitated hundreds of interviews with Army survivors, family members and leaders leading up to the first anniversary. His efforts contributed to the Army winning the Silver Anvil, the Public Relations Society of America's premier award for communications excellence. He retired from the Army in 2006.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a graduate of the Department of Defense Program in Joint Communications at the University of Oklahoma.  His military education includes the Command and General Staff College, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Public Affairs Officer Course, the Cavalry Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advance Course and other military schools. Mr. Yantis leads a professional staff in running a private, non-profit, non-partisan, special collection library in Chicago. His primary focus is to develop annual and long range plans and policies while increasing the visibility of the Library as a major venue for military history and the representations of the Citizen-Soldier in our democratic process and republic to an ever-expanding audience. He lives with his family near Crystal Lake.

Many parents find  that getting  their kids to read can be challenging. With distractions coming from all directions, teens often resist the idea of settling into a magazine or book. Still, parents should continue to encourage their children to read because the more a student has read, the better the chances of developing their full potential. Some things to think about include:

· Imagination develops as the reader constructs a mental image of what is being read
· Concentration improves through the habit of regular reading sessions
· Written and verbal skills improve which prepare your child for "real world" situations where they will share ideas.

Keep encouraging your middle school child to read because the results last a lifetime!