For 17 years, before the sun rises and long after the final school bell rings, they have stood watch. 

Rain. Snow. Bitter cold. Busy intersections. Early mornings. Long afternoons. 

Hundreds of Parent Patrol members across Cicero District 99 volunteer every single school day to protect children and families traveling to and from school — serving as extra eyes and ears in neighborhoods where safety matters most. Working side-by-side with the Cicero Police Department, these dedicated volunteers have become one of the most respected and recognized community safety programs in the region. 

And yesterday, Cicero District 99 proudly celebrated them. 

In partnership with Town of Cicero President Larry Dominick and the Board of Trustees, District 99 hosted its 17th Annual Parent Patrol End-Of-the-Year Celebration — an event honoring the people who quietly help keep an entire community safe. 

What began nearly two decades ago has grown into something extraordinary. 

No other school district has built a Parent Patrol force quite like Cicero's. The program has drawn regional attention, with other districts now looking to Cicero as the model for how schools, families, and local government can unite to protect our school areas. 

But beyond the recognition, the evening was about gratitude. 

The sounds of the Morton East Mariachi Band filled the room as volunteers gathered for a celebration built entirely around appreciation. District administrators personally served food to the Parent Patrol members as a heartfelt thank-you for their service — a powerful reminder that those who give so much to the community deserve to be celebrated by it. 

Every member received certificates honoring their dedication and commitment to Cicero's families. 

And in one of the day's most meaningful moments, President Dominick presented special recognition plaques to Parent Patrol Directors Ismael Vargas and Eddie Lopez for nearly two decades of leadership, commitment, and unwavering service in helping sustain one of the community's most impactful programs. 

Special recognition was also given to District Parent Liaison Isabel Ramirez, whose years of dedication have helped bridge the connection between parents and the school district — strengthening trust, communication, and community every step of the way. 

Programs do not last 17 years by accident. They survive because people care enough to show up. Every morning. Every afternoon. Every school day. 

Cicero's Parent Patrol program is proof of what happens when an entire community refuses to stand on the sidelines when it comes to protecting the streets around our schools!