How DuPage County towns are observing Veterans Day
It was the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 when armistice ended the fighting in what has come to be known as World War I. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 Armistice Day, when all work would be suspended for two minutes at 11 a.m.
In 1921, during preparations for creating the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Congress declared the day a federal holiday honoring all those who participated in the war.
In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day.
That is the history, as described on the U.S. Army's Web page, of the day that groups throughout the suburbs mark with events to honor the contributions of those who served.
These are the events planned in DuPage County:
Today
Naperville
• Naperville Park District's Springbrook and Naperbrook golf courses in Naperville will give veterans a 50 percent discount on green fees today through Sunday. For details, call (630) 848-5000.
Roselle
• Lake Park High School students and other volunteers with American Legion Post 1084 in Roselle will raise money today for the Gifts to the Yanks Who Gave program operated by the American Legion Illinois headquarters in Bloomington. They will collect donations outside train stations in Roselle, Medinah and Itasca. The funds are used to buy necessities for hospitalized veterans throughout Illinois. The items are sorted into packages that are delivered to vets over Christmas.
Saturday
Carol Stream/Wheaton
• The American Legion Post 76 in Carol Stream is conducting a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park, 208 W. Union Ave., Wheaton. The short ceremony will include a wreath laying in front of the Doughboy statue. For details, call the American Legion Post at (630) 682-0076.
Sunday
Aurora
• Aurora observes Veterans Day with a parade and ceremony beginning at 10:15 a.m. from Benton and Water streets. For details, call (630) 844-4FUN or visit aurora-il.org.
Addison
• VFW Post 7446 is conducting a service at 11 a.m. for Veterans Day with Addison Mayor Larry Hartwig at Veteran's Circle, Lake Street and Addison Road. Following the remembrance, there is an open house at the VFW, 446 W. Lake St. For details, call (630) 628-9804.
Wheaton
• Cantigny Park will offer free parking from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate Veterans Day at the park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 668-5161 or visit cantignypark.com.
Glendale Heights
• Glendale Heights will remember all veterans with a service at 11 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park, 220 Civic Center Plaza. The services will be conducted by Glendale Heights VFW Post 2377. For details, call (630) 894-1358.
Glen Ellyn
• Glen Ellyn American Legion Post 3 will have a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road. Glen Ellyn Police Department's Color Guard will post the colors, the mother of an Iraq veteran will say a few words and members of Glenbard South High School's band will perform. Area Cub Scouts also will donate flags, and the village's Volunteer Fire Company and Legion members will assist. The program includes guest speaker Del Miller. For details, call Bob Kent at (630) 469-3991.
Naperville
• American Legion Post 43 and Naperville VFW Post 3773 will conduct a ceremony at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park, 203 E. Gartner Road, Naperville. The ceremony will be followed by a lunch for veterans and their families at the VFW hall, 908 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. The traditional Veterans Day dinner will start with a social hour at 6 p.m. at the VFW hall. The cost is $12 per person. For reservations, call (630) 236-3665.
• Naperville Municipal Band plays a "Veterans Day Salute to the Allies" at 3 p.m. at Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave. The performance features saxophone soloist Harry Hindson, formerly of the U.S. Navy Band, and Naperville resident Rudy Bilotta conducts his composition, "The Spirit of Naperville." Free. For information, call (630) 778-9994 or visit napervilleband.org.
Villa Park
• VFW Post 2801 will have a Veterans Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the post, 39 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park. For details, call (630) 834-8191.
Oakbrook Terrace
• Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery will have a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. in the Victory Garden, 17W201 Roosevelt Road. The event will include prayers, speakers and the laying of a wreath at the cemetery's Veterans Wall. For details, call (630) 941-5860.
Warrenville
• At 11 a.m., Warrenville will host a ceremony to honor veterans and current military members at the Veterans' Memorial on Stafford Place outside city hall, 3S258 Manning Ave. The local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8081 will conduct the ceremonies with full military protocol.
Monday
Villa Park
• VFW Post 2801 and the Oak Park Vet Center will present Welcoming Home Veterans: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom from 5 to 8 p.m. at the VFW post, 39 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park. Five speakers will discuss topics such as the psychological effects of war, educational benefits for military families, job opportunities for veterans and an overview of services available at the Oak Park Vet Center. Question-and-answer periods will follow each presentation. For details, call Tom King at (630) 530-8789 or Pat Wasisco at (708) 383-3225.
Lombard
• The village of Lombard Veterans Day ceremony will be at 11 a.m. in Volunteer Plaza, Main Street and St. Charles Road. Participants include American Legion Post 391, Lilac VFW Post 5815 and village President William Mueller. The Rev. Jerry Bimber from Lombard Church of the Nazarene will give the convocation, and the keynote speaker will be Rick Frank, VFW State Adjutant. A reception follows at the Grove Family Restaurant, 2 St. Charles Road. For details, call Kate Burke at (630) 620-3083 or visit villageoflombard.org.