Marcia McGinnis of Grain Valley reaches out to the name of Harold Swan on The Wall That Heals at Pink Hill Park in Blue Springs. Swan was a friend of McGinnis\' uncle Bill Allen. According to McGinnis\' grandmother Betty Allen, Swan, who had already served two tours of duty in Vietnam as a U.S. Marine, talked Bill out of joining the Marines, telling him that he was going back for him. Swan was killed in 1969 during that third tour of duty. The wall is open for viewing 24 hours a day during the four days that it is in Blue Springs. Educational exhibit hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. A complete list of events can be found on the city’s website at www.bluespringsgov.com or at the event site. 10.1.2010 Adam Vogler
Taylor Doucher, 16, from right, Katlyn Zornef, 15, Katlyn Weinkauf, 15, and Andrew Laiv, 16, try to beat the heat with a water fight at the Lyon County Free Fair Sunday, Aug. 3. 8.3.2008 Adam Vogler
Lindsay Storms, 17, front, leads fellow students Monique Martinez, 17, Ali Bundy, 17, and Art Portfolio teacher Megan Schmitt as they carry part of their float before the Blue Springs High School Homecoming Parade Thursday afternoon. The students, who referred to themselves as \'art geeks\' each portrayed characters from the Harry Potter series of novels with the help of their instructors who played Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort. Several participants in this years\' parade embraced this year\'s homecoming theme of Midnight Masquerade by dressing in costume. 9.9.2010 Adam Vogler
Troop Leader Anan Smith reaches up to pick a plum from a tree in the garden at Nowlin Middle School as a group of Cub Scouts, who help maintain the garden, look on. The scouts are working to bring the long neglected garden back to life at Nowlin, one of the schools transferred from the Kansas City School District to the Independence School District two years ago. 7.6.2010 Adam Vogler
Wide receiver Keeston Terry, left, and quarterback Jared Lanpher will be leading the offense for the top-ranked Blue Springs Wildcats. 8.14.2009 Adam Vogler
Justin Anderson hangs onto his mount during the bareback bronco competition of the Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City, Kan., Saturday, June 7. 6.7.2008
Blue Springs guard Tyonna Snow draws a foul from Staley guard Marissa Preston during the Wildcats\' 63-35 win over the Falcons in the championship game of the 2010 Lee\'s Summit North Bronco Varsity Girls Basketball Invitational. 12.3.2010 Adam Vogler
William Chrisman senior Andrea Locke is eyeing a state championship medal as her high school career comes to a close. 3.19.2010 Adam Vogler
Mindy Swayne, the practice manager at the Lee\'s Summit location of the Kansas City Cancer Center, shaved her head as part of Shave to Save, a fundraiser for the Kansas City chapter of the American Cancer Society. 5.24.2010
Blue Springs South freshman setter Janie Morrison and junior outside-hitter Chloe Robinson had career games during the Jaguars\' 28-26, 18-25, 25-12 upset victory over cross-town rival Blue Springs on the Wildcats’ home court. 9.8.2010 Adam Vogler
Kirsten Manglos adjusts her cap and tassel before Metropolitan Community College-Blue River\'s 2010 Commencement at the Truman Memorial Building. The Independence native is graduating with an associates degree in business management. 5.14.2010
Blue Springs guard Tyonna Snow weeps as she takes off her second place medallion while Incarnate Word Academy is presented with the championship trophy after defeating the Wildcats 52-43 the Class 5 Girls Championship game at the Show-Me Showdown at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. It was Blue Springs\' second consecutive loss in the state title game. 3.13.2010 Adam Vogler
Blue Springs senior Emily Bragaw and coach Katie Grusing celebrate a point during the Wildcats\' 28-26, 18-25, 25-12 home loss to Blue Springs South. 9.7.2010 Adam Vogler
Blue Springs guard Brittany Clement reacts as Incarnate Word Academy celebrates their 59-49 win over the Wildcats in the Class 5 Girls Championship game at the Show-Me Showdown at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Blue Springs has lost in the state title game three years in a row, including a loss to the Red Knights last year. 3.12.2011 Adam Vogler
Fort Osage forward Brady Smith points to the sky in celebration after scoring a goal tying the score 2-2 late in the first half of the Indians\' 4-3 double overtime win over Van Horn. 9.8.2010 Adam Vogler
One and a half year-old Jazmyn Gheen plays in the spray of spray the water feature in McCoy Park. The park tops The Examiner\'s list of the area\'s Top Ten parks. 7.17.2009 Adam Vogler
Les, left, and Dana Mengel play on the lawn of the Bingham Wagoner Estate in Independence. The brothers drew upon the artwork of George Caleb Bingham for their new CD, \'Inspired by Bingham.\' Seven of the album\'s 10 songs are related to Bingham\'s paintings, including \'Order No. 11,\' which is on display with the Mengel\'s music as part of the Truman Library\'s Bingham exhibit. 6.9.2011 Adam Vogler
Blue Springs Diondre Hall knocks the bar off in the high jump during the Class 4 sectional track meet at Staley High School Saturday. The junior recored a best jump of 6 ft. 3 in. placing sixth and qualifying for the Class 4 Missouri State High School Track and Field Championships this Saturday at Lincoln University’s Dwight T. Reed Memorial Stadium in Jefferson City. 5.21.2011 Adam Vogler
Missouri Mavericks players and fans celebrate forward Nick Sirota\'s second goal of the first period, which gave the Mavericks a 2-0 lead over the Wichita Thunder in the decisive game five of the Turner Conference Quarterfinals at the Independence Events Center. Wichita came back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game in the third period a goal by Mavericks forward Nathan O’Nabigon with 4:24 left put Missouri on top for good. 4.6.2011 Adam Vogler
Missouri Comets players mingle in the spotlight as they are introduced to the crowd before the Comets\' 22-6 loss to the Baltimore Blast at the Independence Events Center. 12.29.2010 Adam Vogler