St. Theresa community honors veterans, celebrates freedom
Arlington Park owner Richard Duchossois told a crowd of students, parents and veterans who'd assembled at the annual Veterans Day event hosted Friday afternoon by St. Theresa School and Parish in Palatine that it was important to reflect on the freedoms that veterans fought to preserve and that we sometimes take for granted.
"Freedom, I feel, is like the oxygen you breathe. It's something you just assume is something you say. It's just there. It's free," Duchossois said. "But when someone puts their hands around your throat and starts choking you, your freedom is cut off, you understand the value of what freedom really means."
Duchossois, a Barrington resident, made his remarks as one of the event's keynote speakers. Duchossois, 95 years old, served in five European campaigns during World War II, including Normandy, where he was a tank commander under Gen. George Patton, and attained the rank of major.
Marine Sgt. William Mefferd, a combat engineer who searched for roadside explosive devices during his tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2013, also spoke, telling the nonveterans in the crowd that they had another duty on Veterans Day.
"Thank the veterans, but also remember that this day is for you as much as us. The reason we fight is for you," Mefferd said. "Be the best version of yourself and be the best American you can be."
The event also was full of patriotic presentations made by St. Theresa School students.
Kate Hannon, 13, was one of three students to read essays they wrote.
"The 24 million vets living in the U.S. are indeed the bravest citizens in the country," Hannon told the packed sanctuary. "Veterans could be a wealthy politician or a person begging in the street. ... One thing that ties them together is they sacrificed more than we can imagine all for me, for you and for our country."
The students also sang a medley of military songs, including "Over There," "Anchors Away," and "The Marine's Hymn." At certain points throughout the medley, veterans in the crowd would stand when they heard the song of their branch of the armed service.
Duchossois said the students' performance during the ceremony gave him hope for the future of freedom in America.
"You have to fight for what you get in life. Coming in second isn't good enough; you have to win," Duchossois told the crowd. "You have to do the best you can, and I see you doing that here today."