Kids hear of wartime sacrifices firsthand
The dwindling numbers of World War II and Korean War veterans -- more than 1,000 World War II veterans, it is estimated, die each day -- mean that many children will never get to hear their stories firsthand.
With that in mind, Wayne Elementary School held a Veterans Day event Wednesday that, for many students, will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
World War II veterans Art Richoz of Elgin and Gene Bonk of Aurora and Korean War veteran Johnny Vargas of Elgin spent the day Wednesday visiting students, showing their medals and answering questions about their experiences.
The day's recurring theme was to remind students that Veterans Day is more than a day off, and that it is based on real stories about real people.
"I think this lets the kids appreciate, in a small way, what these men have done," said fifth-grade teacher Paula Valleskey, who organized the event. "Maybe they don't understand all of it, but they can understand the men's sacrifice when we take it out of the history books and put it in front of them."
Valleskey found her storytellers in "Fox Valley Veterans," a 2004 book by Elgin author George Rawlinson, who hosted the assembly. The book tells the stories of area veterans, including Richoz, Bonk and Vargas.
But the book was no replacement for hearing the stories in person.
Richoz told of his repeated attempts to enlist to fight alongside his brother, Gordon. Richoz worked making mortar shells at the converted Illinois Watch Case factory in Elgin, and the draft board was reluctant to take him from his valuable work.
He told of leaving his wife and 2-month-old son when he was eventually drafted and sent to Europe.
He described being shot in the face and losing his right eye in Germany, and told the children about the wounded men he met in the 10 army hospitals he spent time in.
Gene Bonk, who commanded about 300 men through D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, told of spending 28 days in 1944 in foxholes surrounded by German troops, and of his relief when English bombers finally came to their rescue.
"That was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen," Bonk said.
Rawlinson told of Johnny Vargas leading soldiers out of an enemy minefield in Korea. Vargas, a professional trumpeter who still plays taps at local military funerals, lightened the mood by leading the children in "The Chicken Dance" on his trumpet.
But in the end, the message was a serious one.
"I know that you are going to be the future leaders of our country," Richoz told the children, "and I'll expect all of you to remember."