PERU, Ill. (AP) – An Illinois family has completed a fallen Marine’s dream of building a track at his former high school.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the Capt. Thomas J. Heitmann Memorial Track at St. Bede Academy in Peru, Illinois was dedicated this month.
Thomas Heitmann dreamed of building a track at the academy. The 27-year-old had written to his high school track coach that his experience in track contributed to his success in college and the Marine Corps.
Heitmann died in a training accident in 2011.
Heitmann’s sister, Rachel Christensen, says the Heitmann family decided to build the track as a way to process their grief and honor Heitmann.
St. Bede donated 7 acres (2.8 hectares) around the campus for the track. Heitmann’s family organized six annual golf fundraisers that collected about $25,000 a year.
