Glendale Heights installs 5,456 flags in honor of Memorial Day

It was Memorial Day weekend 2004 when Army veteran John Tautkus was touched by the sight of a field of crosses remembering those lost during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

A member of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division who served from 1978 to 1985, Tautkus said those crosses inspired him to make sure people remember what Monday's holiday is all about.

"Since it's been a while since I've seen anyone do this, I thought it'd be nice to put flags out," he said Thursday. "Something has to be done for Memorial Day to remind people it's not all about cookouts and having fun."

Tautkus joined students from 12 classes from Glendale Heights-area schools to place 5,456 small flags - one for each service member killed in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan - at the village's Veteran's Memorial Park at the corner of Bloomingdale Road and Fullerton Avenue.

Twelve-year-old Katie Nelson, a sixth-grader from Glenside Middle School, was happy to help.

"It's a nice way to remember people who have fought for us," she said. "My grandfather has served in a war so we know what that means in my house."

Mayor Linda Jackson distributed the flags to students after they were given a brief history lesson by Tautkus and said she thinks the event helped kids better understand the meaning of Memorial Day.

"The students participating today have been very respectful and I believe they understand the significance of what they're doing," Jackson said. "They're contributing to a significant memorial to our fallen soldiers."

Jackson said she hopes the flag memorial will become an annual event, with plans to use the same flags donated this year by VFW Post 2377.

"We have an idea for next year to line it up perfectly," Jackson said, referencing the white string grid in the park to show students where to place the flags.

Americana Elementary School fourth-grader Tommie Merchant said he hopes his school participates next year so he can build on the tradition.

"It's very nice so I would help next year to make the park look nice for Memorial Day," Merchant said "But there's a lot of flags to put in here."

The flag display is expected to remain posted through Monday's Memorial Day observances at the park.