Naperville says thank you to its veterans

More than 100 Naperville veterans gathered on the hill at Veterans Park Saturday morning to be thanked and to thank each other for their service.

They were joined by a Medal of Honor recipient, retired U.S. Marine Col. Harvey Barnum of Connecticut. He received his medal at age 25 for his service in Vietnam, where he risked his life to assume control of a unit after its commander was killed during a firefight.

"As Americans, we owe a great deal of gratitude to these veterans, over the years, who have sacrificed for our liberty and security of this nation," Barnum told the crowd gathered at the park on Gartner Avenue. "We should all be proud to be Americans. And for God's sake, don't be afraid to show it."

The crowd, filled with veterans, their family members and residents cheered.

Mary Bour and her two young sons were among them. She said it's never too early to teach them to say "thank you" to a veteran.

"They run around and play 'army guys,' but they don't know what it's about," she said. "I'm grateful that they're talking about the importance of this day at school and we're trying to do it at home as well."

Judd Kendall Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3873 Cmdr. Tom Parker and Naperville American Legion Post 43 Cmdr. Doug Deetjen greeted the crowd, the honor guard for the two posts performed a rifle salute, and the Naperville Municipal Band performed.

Other commemorations of Veterans Day Saturday in the western suburbs included a breakfast in Bensenville, a parade in Aurora and the Elmhurst American Legion's military ball.