Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • November 6, 2013 Midland Park Corporal Amy Steppe to speak on Veterans Day by John Koster Corporal Amy Steppe of Ridgewood, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served in Japan, will be the guest speaker at the Midland Park Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. She is known for being an engaging public speaker. Steppe’s spouse, Sergeant Mark Steppe, is a U.S. Army combat veteran of Iraq who now has a serious health issue. Cpl. Steppe is at the forefront of championing her hus- band’s cause. Sgt. Steppe, who served in combat in Iraq in 2005- 2006, rescued two buddies under fire, rounded up 18 prisoners, and received the Combat Infantry Badge for sustained service under fire. Originally from southern California, he was an athletic and active outdoorsman. He served in South Korea before joining the infantry in Iraq. He received an honorable discharge and a number of ser- vice medals for action overseas, and was nominated for the Bronze Star, a decoration for valor, due to his rescue of his two buddies and the attempted rescue of a third who died in his arms. Some months after he returned to the United States, Mark began to experience medical symptoms that were Amy and Mark Steppe organic rather than psychological. He was forced to give up college and a part-time job. He is now a semi-invalid who walks with a cane and experiences constant pain. Amy, a long-time Ridgewood resident, and her parents assist with his daily needs and frequent medical appoint- ments. They have two young sons. Amy reports that, at one point, Mark’s service records were lost, and she and Mark have yet to understand the exact nature of his medical problems. They continue to investigate why a once healthy man, not wounded by enemy action, should undergo such a drastic loss of health at such a young age. Veterans’ groups, local businesses, and members of the extended family have pitched in to help with support that Amy says they are not getting from the government. Midland Park’s Veterans Day services will be held at Veterans Plaza on Greenwood Avenue, located in the borough’s Wortendyke Section. The master of ceremonies will be Midland Park Mayor Bud O’Hagan. The invoca- tion and benediction will be offered by The Reverend Lloyd Vorderstrasse of the Church of God. The flag salute will be led by VFW members Harold Allen and Joseph Sheffel. The national anthem will be sung by the Faber brothers. “Taps” will be performed by VFW members. Marching band ends busy season on high note The Midland Park High School Marching Band con- cluded its 2013 season last month with an outstanding championship performance at the New York State Field Band Conference, placing sixth in a field of 13. Unlike other districts in which the marching band solely performs at football games, MPHS’s is a field band, which competes against marching bands from New York and New Jersey. Because the stakes are high (each performance is scored by a team of independent judges), students are challenged to refine and improve every performance. And the path to victory is not an easy one. It requires rigorous practice, teamwork, focus, confidence, leadership, and countless other skills that serve to help young people grow. The band is under the direction of high school music teacher David Marks, “There are countless studies that demonstrate the many advantages of a music rich education. Not only does music enhance students’ lives culturally; but also, in the school setting, music education challenges students to think in (continued on page 31) The Midland Park High School Band