Arlington Heights honors its fallen soldiers, veterans
Memorial Day is a time to honor the sacrifices made by many in military service. In Arlington Heights, the remembrance included recognition of a group that, along with local high school students, tries to do more than just say, "Thank you."
The village's 97th annual Memorial Day ceremony cited the efforts of an Arlington Heights-based agency - A Soldier's Journey Home - and the help it has received from three high schools in building homes specifically for severely injured veterans.
Two recipients of the homes were Army Sgt. Jason Smith of Ringgold, Georgia, who attended Monday's ceremony, and Marine Lance Cpl. Cody Evans of Speedwell, Tennessee, who could not because of a family emergency. For both men, their many injuries in Afghanistan included the amputation of both legs.
Students at Hersey High School alone raised $80,000 for the homebuilding efforts, said Mike Fitzpatrick, president of A Soldier's Journey Home. Students at Buffalo Grove and Rolling Meadows shared the work of framing walls, using a donation of $50,000 in lumber from the Mount Prospect Home Depot store, organization secretary Chuck Frankiewicz said.
Volunteers for the organization wore shirts bearing the slogan "All Gave Some, Some Gave All" to Monday's event.
The Memorial Park ceremony paid special respect to "Gold Star Families" who have lost a loved one in active duty - whether in World War II, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan.
"These are all young men from Arlington Heights who went off to serve and gave their lives for our freedom," said Greg Padovani, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights.
The village was once home to 58 of these fallen heroes - from Army Pvt. Jacob Sigwalt, who perished during the Civil War on Dec. 31, 1862, to Marine Lance Cpl. James Bray Stack, who died in action in Afghanistan on Nov. 10, 2010.
Monday's ceremony also included the names of the more than 200 of the village's veterans who died in the past year.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk was on hand to award the Purple Heart to Irving M. Abramson of Skokie, a World War II veteran severely injured by German artillery during the Battle of the Bulge.
Although 71 years might seem a long time to wait for such recognition, Kirk said Abramson told him of a memory that had held him over. While recuperating, Abramson received a visit - and a kiss - from actress Marlene Dietrich, Kirk said.
Other speakers at Monday's ceremony included Mayor Tom Hayes, Brig. Gen. Frederick Maiocco Jr. of the Army Reserve's 85th Support Command in Arlington Heights, Rear Adm. Stephen Evans, commander of the Naval Services Traning Command at Great Lakes, and the Rev. Matt Foley, pastor of St. James Catholic Church in Arlington Heights and a former Army chaplain.