Congratulations to the Class of 2013! They will celebrate their graduation 6 p.m. June 6.

A special compliment to all those graduating with honors and members of the National Honor Society. You should be very proud in your academic achievements throughout your four years of high school. Continue that tradition and you will persevere in college and your future endeavors.

A special compliment to 2013 Valedictorian and Salutatorian, Alan Mendez and Casey Creveling.

The Baccalaureate Service will be 7:30 p.m. June 3 at Horizon Church. So proud of my son, Eric Tatum, who will also provide a reading at this service. Thank you to parent, Jill Creveling for organizing this important celebration to honor and pray for our graduates.

Salisbury High School will honor those who are recipients of academic and service awards in the auditorium 7 to 10 p.m. May 22.

Life is an exciting opportunity. You only graduate from high school once. And for many of you, you are leaving the comforts and security of home. So now, you need to find that courage, that perseverance; you need to follow your dreams and achieve new goals. Remember that you will learn, in the next few years, more outside the classroom then you may learn inside the classroom. All are important in your journey, called life. You should live with conviction, remember your character and virtues - and every moment from now until your next graduation - from college - you will change the world. Take your opportunity and seize the day - Carpe Diem!

Many congratulations to all the successes at Salisbury - congrats first to the winners of the State Pa. Junior Academy of Science. First place winners from SHS included Lindsay Bauer, Rachel Costantini, Jessica Safi, Hannah Kahn, Hannah Marze, Michael Palmer, Meghan Williams, Michelle Dang and Gabby Maramag.

From Salisbury Middle School, the following students earned first at the State PJAS competition, recently held at Penn State University, Nikki Fackler, Christina Marinos, Arthur Oliver, Eric Pennella, Mahlon Reihman, Leandra Roekler, Ben Weiner and Marisol Rosario.

Congratulations to the Salisbury varsity baseball team for your undefeated season and for capturing the Colonial League title and special accolades to senior, Nic Ampietro for earning the Colonial League MVP. Good Luck during district play-offs!

Congratulations to Salisbury's tennis players during their district competition and for their successful season.

Special acknowledgement to the track and field participants. Congratulations to all who placed at the District competition and best of luck to those athletes moving on to the State event.

Special kudos to Reichenbach for setting a District XI record in the Triple Jump.

Salisbury will have fall athletic physicals for the 2013-2014 school year June 8 at the SMS health room. Those who need an athletic physical and the respective time to report include boys soccer 8 a.m.; football 8:30 a.m. and all other boys 9 a.m.; girls field hockey 9:45 a.m.; girls soccer 10 a.m.; cheerleading 10:15 a.m. and all other girls 10:30 a.m. Necessary paperwork will be available at both SHS and SMS main offices June 1.

Team managers, twirlers and marching band members must have a physical on or after June 1.

SHS students will continue to take Keystone tests this week.

All schools in Salisbury will be closed May 24 for a Professional Development day and May 27 for observance of Memorial Day.

As this country just celebrated Armed Fores Day, and May is National Military Appreciation Month, as well as Memorial Day, I offer this quote from General Douglas MacArthur. "No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation."

Trident Swim and Tennis Club opens to members May 25. The board is hosting an Adult Social June 8, rescheduled from this past weekend. For more information on how to become a member or for activities and schedules, go to www.tridentswimtennis.com.

If you missed the Race for Adam 5K, you can still support the Race for Adam Foundation by attending an Iron Pigs baseball game.

The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs will play Gwinnett Braves 1:35 pm. June 2 at Coca Cola Park. Only 220 tickets are available. For more information or a list of upcoming events, go to raceforadam.org.

If you participated in the Race for Adam 5K, enjoy running in races, or looking for a family activity, then register for the first annual 5K Run/Walk with Your Doctor at the Lehigh Parkway July 14; race starts at 8:30 a.m. Food, prizes, and the opportunity to run with your doctor, all held on a beautiful Saturday morning in the parkway. For more information, visit http://www. tilghmanmc.com/5K_Run_Walk.html. Online registration is also available at active.com.

Speaking of health, May is National Hospital Week and National EMS Week, as well as Stroke Awareness Month and Women's Health Week. If you know an EMS volunteer or an EMT, then please thank them for their countless hours as a first responder and ambulance worker.

Congratulations to all graduates from The Swain School, St. Thomas More, Allentown Central Catholic and to all the college graduates from Salisbury. A special congrats to Salisbury resident, Katie Werrell, who just graduated with her masters degree in physician assistant. So very proud of you, Katie! Welcome to the world of medicine.

A final note, I want to let the loyal readers know that my final column will be in two weeks. I thank you for joining me on this journey, A special thank you to those who have been kind enough to send cards, emails and personal letters congratulating my son, Eric and wishing him well before he leaves for R-Day at the United States Military Academy at West Point July 1. You know who you are, and there are many, - my heartfelt appreciation to all who have supported Eric and Sam throughout their years at Salisbury.