While on leave from serving in the Iraq War, Jeff Barrett, left, and Patrick McDermott vacationed in Cancun, Mexico with their friend Mark Bailey, center.

Eileen Chamberlain and Marlene Herrmann of Millstadt take a break at Rathbaum Farm near Killarney during a tour of Ireland with the Ainad Shriners of East St. Louis. The visit was hosted by Potentate Ted Mitchell and Lady Linda Mitchell.

Concord Presbyterian Church from Waterloo took part in their sixth-annual mission trip to San Jose, Belize. During their stay they serve the community and Ebenezer Presbyterian Church.

Emily Eschmann of rural Waterloo, left, and Judy Millen, a Children's Hospital flight nurse, read The Independent on the hospital’s helicopter launch pad.

Ken and Marcia Hahn of Waterloo, left, recently visited Dennis and Tish Jacobsen near the Colorado towns of Nathrop and Salida. "We hiked the Great Sand Dunes, up to 13,000 feet for sunset pictures and rafted the Arkansas River,” said Ken. “That’s where I broke my ankle on the last day of our trip.”

Ken Weiler and Sharon Hirstein of Waterloo chill out in front of a glacier in the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.

Folks at Mike Buettner’s redneck water slide take a break to read The Independent.

Mike and Sandy Lawlor, their daughters Mandy and Kristy, along with boyfriends Luke Row, left, and  and Curtis Willingham, catch up on The Independent news while vacationing in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Navy Corpsman Crystal (Goeddel) Wettekin has been serving in Fallujah, Iraq since this past January. Her mother, Debbie Hasty, is making sure she keeps up with the goings-on back home.

Brian, Karen and Shirley Mueller read The Independent at Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana.

Bruce and Susie Naumann invited the McAuliffe family to a day of boating at Lake Kincaid. Enjoying catching up on local news are, left to right, Susie Naumann, Deanna Mathew, Allison, Jamie and Tim McAulliffe and Bruce Naumann.

Bob Petraitis of Waterloo enjoys his favorite newspaper with the last of the sunlight in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Maeystown Fire Chief Lyndie Prange catches up on news from back home before touring the U.S. Capital in Washington D.C.

Army Specialist Matt Rachels of Columbia is stationed with Delta Co. STB 4th Infantry Division in Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq.

Walter and Patricia Wetzel took their family on a Caribbean Cruise in honor of their 40th wedding anniversary. They visited Grand Cayman, Isla Roatan, Honduras, Belize and Cozumel, Mexico. Enjoying the sun are, left to right, Ron and Maria Wetzel, Brian, Julie and Valerie Branson, and Walter and Patricia Wetzel.