'Aurora Profiles in Courage' continues at Aurora's G.A.R. Memorial Museum
History came to life at Aurora's Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Memorial Museum on the evening of Feb. 28. Four educational and historical presentations were given during History Talks "Aurora Profiles in Courage," a free program hosted by the City of Aurora's G.A.R. Memorial Museum.
"Aurora Profiles in Courage" features stories about those past and present Aurorans - veterans, service organizations and community members - who courageously served our country through their contributions and commitments.
The keynote speaker for the first program Jan 24 was Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin, a veteran of the Gulf War.
Wednesday's event marked the second program in this new series. The keynote speaker was Lt. Lauren Carthan, a 22-year Navy veteran, a NJROTC Senior Naval Science Instructor, and the first woman to hold this position at East Aurora High School.
In honor of Black History Month, Lt. Carthan commemorated the outstanding accomplishments and achievements of black Americans throughout the course of American history and reflected on America's struggles for a more free and equal country. Lt. Carthan also shared her personal experiences as an American: as a woman in military uniform, as the leader of 600 NJROTC Cadets at East Aurora High School, and also as the mother of two sons.
Harry Reineke IV, senior vice commander of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War General Philip H. Sheridan Camp No. 2, gave information about the original mission of the Grand Army of the Republic, which actively supported benefits for veterans. Reineke also outlined the history of Aurora's G.A.R. Memorial Museum, which was built as a memorial for Civil War veterans.
Lynne Krantz, regent of the Aurora Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, outlined the history of DAR as a women's service organization, the impact of the organization during times of conflict and war, and the contributions that the Aurora Chapter NSDAR has made to the community since 1912 when the chapter was founded.
Vicki White of Visiting Veterans presented the history of the American Red Cross. Joining White was re-enactor Mary Capet Miller who portrayed Clara Barton, the pioneering hospital nurse during the American Civil War and founder of the American Red Cross.
The presentation of the colors was given by the Color Guard of the East Aurora School District 131 Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC).
Also participating was Lawrence Lenoir, City of Aurora Veterans Advisory Committee and Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post No. 84; Gary Krolik Jr., vice commander of the Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84; and Eric Pry, curator of Aurora's G.A.R. Memorial Museum.
The next "History Talks" titled "Aurora's Profiles in Courage" will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, at the Aurora's G.A.R. Memorial Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, Aurora.
For information, visit City of Aurora's G.A.R. Memorial Museum at www.aurora-il.org/372/Grand-Army-of-the-Republic, East Aurora High School NJROTC at sites.google.com/view/eastnjrotc, Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84 at www.post84.com, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War General Philip H. Sheridan Camp No. 2 at www.suvcwil.com/SheridanCamp.html, Visiting Veterans' Facebook page, and Aurora Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution at ildar.org/chapters/aurora/.