Bartlett Volunteer Fire Association honors veterans

On Friday, May 31, for the fifth year running, the Bartlett Volunteer Fire Association hosted local veterans for a memorial dinner.

This dinner was attended by 58 local veterans, including members of Bartlett American Legion Post 1212, Bartlett Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 11018, and Streamwood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5151.

Present were veterans from all branches of service as well as conflicts including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

The evening began with the national anthem performed by Wayne and Kathleen Messmer. Following the national anthem, elected officials addressed the assembled veterans. Speaking at the event were U.S. Congressman Peter Roskam, DuPage County Commissioner Laurie Nowak, Wayne Township Supervisor Tom Arends, and Bartlett Mayor Kevin Wallace. Bartlett Trustee Eric Shipman spoke on behalf of Hanover Township Supervisor Brian McGuire, who was present and had to leave for another engagement.

Following dinner, a presentation was given by Ron Wolflick from the Honor Flight Chicago program. The Bartlett Volunteer Fire Association presented Honor Flight Chicago with a $500 donation and will be sponsoring a Guardian to accompany an Honor Flight in the fall. Wayne and Kathleen Messmer closed out the event with a rendition of “God Bless America.”

The Bartlett Volunteer Fire Association would like to thank Moretti’s Ristorante of Bartlett for the donation of the food for the event.

The Bartlett Volunteer Fire Association has been meeting the needs of the community for more than 110 years — first as a fire department assisting Bartlett residents during an emergency and more recently as a charitable and civic organization.

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