Dundee cemetery walk honors residents who served in World War I

The stories of Dundee-area men and women who served in World War I - including veterans, a nurse and an aviator - were brought to life Sunday by members of the Dundee Township Historical Society.

The organization's cemetery walk, held every other year in West Dundee, honored the 100th anniversary of the United States' involvement in what was then known as "the Great War."

Dozens of visitors touring the West Cemetery grounds throughout the afternoon stopped at graves marked with an American flag, which indicated the person buried there had ties to the war. Along the way, volunteers portraying the spirits of historical figures shared stories about living through the World War I era.

Carpentersville resident Kristie Benedik dressed as Dundee native Caroline Steinwart, a volunteer Red Cross nurse who spent long hours tending to injured soldiers in France. Not only did Benedik have to learn about her character, she said, she also had to research the nursing occupation during the war.

"I think it's an interesting way to learn about the history of the time period and your area," said Benedik, a member of the historical society's board of directors. "It's easier for people to relate to the history of their area (and) even to their own ancestors that may have been alive during that time."

Attendees heard from actors portraying veteran Bill Decker, veteran and attorney Marcus Sternberg, and Leonard and Catherine Shedden, whose son died in battle. The walk also featured presentations about aviation during the war, as well as the Gold Star Mothers, a group for women whose sons were killed in battle.

Elgin resident Rick Jones, a West Dundee native and a self-proclaimed history buff, has attended more than a dozen cemetery walks in the area. He says he's fascinated by stories of past residents who played a significant role in history.

"Some people think cemeteries are creepy. I think they're historic," he said. "These are the people who came before us."

Finding information about veterans buried in the cemetery was not easy for historical society President Marge Edwards, who spent months researching and writing the scripts for most of the volunteers. Don Alisi, who portrayed a World War I pilot, conducted his own research and included props in his presentation, she added.

Aside from old yearbooks and obituaries, information on World War I is scarce because many records were destroyed in floods or fires, said Edwards, the daughter of an Army veteran. She's encouraging anyone with photos, records or artifacts to share their information with the historical society.

"I'm going to continue this research," Edwards said. "This is something that should not be forgotten."