I met my husband at the Fort Sheridan U.S.O.

I guess you wonder why a Marylander is writing. Well, I was a Waukeganite first. I was raised on the west side of Waukegan. I was born in St. Therese Hospital in 1928.

After I graduated from the Waukegan Township High School in June of 1946, I became a hostess at the Sheridan U.S.O. from 1946 to 1948. I felt I was serving my country in that way. I really enjoyed it.

I met my husband-to-be at the U.S.O. His name is Jack Ingels, who was a sailor stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Jack and I loved to dance. We were called the Hep Kats (jibberbug). He was studying electronics, which he pursued at college at the University of Maryland.

After he was discharged, he then worked at Westinghouse for 25 years as an electrical engineer.

We have been married for 61 years as of April 12. We were married in '48.

While I was going to school, I worked part time at Kresge's five- and-dime store.

I remember shopping at Hein's and The Globe. What I remember about the two stores was the wonderful fragrance as you walked in the door. Perfumes were wonderful.

After graduation, I worked at Abbott Laboratories part time.

My friends and I had such a great time. We would sing and rock back and forth on the trolley. After Abbott, I got a job as a clerk typist for civil service at Great Lakes.

After Jack and I got married, we moved to Maryland, which is where he is from.

I went to school with the accordion player Bertie Lou Hawley and Als Jackie Herner Saleski. Jackie was my best friend and she worked for the Waukegan News-Sun. Unfortunately, she passed away at only age 50.

I could go on and on about Waukegan. It offers a great opportunity for employment. Waukegan is an industrial town and had many factories on the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

I also watched the 1959 centennial parade with Jack Benny. My brother also marched in the parade. He was a sailor stationed in Guam during World War II.

Both of my parents are gone now, but I have a nephew and two nieces still in the Waukegan area. I have a sister and her family in Gurnee and a niece and her family in the suburbs of Chicago.

I just love Waukegan and hated to leave.

Marion Bruckner