Streamwood pays tribute to freedom fighters
The table was set for five.
Elegantly draped with a white tablecloth, it would remain empty throughout Streamwood's Memorial Day ceremony, held Sunday at the village's Veterans Memorial.
The five chairs marked the absence of men missing in action from each branch of service.
It was one of many ways that Streamwood paid tribute to those who died fighting for freedom throughout the world.
Wreaths were laid, bagpipes and bugles blown and a team of Lima Lima fliers kept the remembrance alive. For 15 minutes, the civilian Lima Lima Flight Team, smoke streaming from their planes, gathered in various formations. At the end came the missing man formation, in which one of the pilots symbolically headed west.
Streamwood was a fitting setting for such a tribute. The village has gone to great lengths to appreciate its veterans. The recently renovated memorial, which is celebrating its 17th anniversary, is lined with 15 black granite markers, commemorating past conflicts.
During the ceremony, World War II veterans were especially singled out for praise by Streamwood Village President Billie Roth.
Roth said millions of people now live in freedom in Germany, Italy, Japan, France, the Philippines and the Netherlands because of their service.
"These Americans did not sacrifice their lives in vain. They gave us and all the people of the world a gift, the gift of freedom, the gift of liberty," she said.
Among those in the audience was Streamwood resident and World War II veteran Harold Klein.
Klein, 81, a former Marine, said he went to machine gun school but, "By the time I got through with my training, the Germans decided to surrender."
Klein said the atomic bomb prevented him from going to Japan.
"I would have been killed in action (during) the invasion of Japan, but because (Truman) dropped the bomb, I'm very happy to be here today," he said.
Sunday's speakers included Mount Prospect resident Kathryn Serbin, a captain with the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps who recently served at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany as a psychiatric clinical specialist. Serbin, who also sang the national anthem and laid a wreath in honor of women who served, has participated in Streamwood's ceremonies for 14 years and is a member of the Streamwood Veterans Memorial Commission.
She told the crowd gathered on chairs, steps and the lawn it was an honor to care for our wounded warriors.
"I have come to realize that one person can make a difference when they are part of a team," she said. "I have listened to and counseled young men and women who have had to struggle with issues that others are not confronted with, nor will they ever, and it has hopefully made me a more compassionate person."
A Korean War veteran, Fred Hossfeld, of Streamwood, who was stationed with the Air Force in Fuchu, Japan, expressed his appreciation for Streamwood's efforts.
"It shows America is strong and that the village of Streamwood cares," he said.