End of World War II remembered in Des Plaines
Tom Boyle was just 6 years old on the day World War II ended with America's victory over Japan, but the events of that day made a lifelong impression.
When the news broke, the lifelong Des Plaines resident got into St. Mary's School with a friend whose father was a janitor there. They grabbed an American flag and a base drum and started their own makeshift parade down the streets.
People spilled out of restaurants cheering, banging on pots and pans and celebrating all day long.
"It was a very, very memorable day," Boyle said on Saturday, 70 years after the end of the war.
Boyle was among about 40 residents, officials and veterans who gathered at the Lake Park Memorial Pavilion in Des Plaines on Saturday to remember the 70th anniversary of Victory Japan Day, marking the end of World War II, with stories of local heroism and a color guard salute.
Officials also unveiled the addition of James A. Hofius to the list of Des Plaines residents who died in the Korean War and thanked all veterans for their service.
"Their sacrifice was enormous," said Jim Brookman, 5th Ward Alderman.
Philip Mohr, curator of the Des Plaines History Center, shared a proclamation from State Rep. Marty Moylan that declared Saturday the Spirit of '45 Day.
"We're celebrating the spirit of people working for democracy and everyone who worked together to bring about the end of fascism 70 years ago today," Mohr said.
Mohr shared the stories of a few of the 300 veterans from Des Plaines who served in World War II, worked at the nearby Douglas Aircraft factory, or moved to the suburb after the war.
Scott Lietzow, veterans outreach coordinator with congressman Bob Dold's office, also spoke about the World War II generation, often referred to as "The Greatest Generation."
"When their country needed them to stop the world's greatest evil, they answered the call," he said.
He recognized one Des Plaines veteran, Richard Vana, who Dold spoke about on the floor of the U.S. Congress earlier this year for his efforts to save a fellow Marine during the war in the Pacific.
Vana was at the ceremony on Saturday and spoke about his wife, whom he met as a young teenager. He told how his faith got him through the war.
"Prayer was an armor in battle and that is why I'm here today," Vana said.
Lietzow, a Marine veteran, also thanked the military members in attendance for their service.
"We did what we did when times got tough because we didn't want to let these guys down," Lietzow said. "Our country is safer because of all of you and all you did."