West Chicago honors World War II veteran Chuck Scheckel
West Chicago recently honored resident and World War II Navy veteran Chuck Scheckel at a city council meeting for his service on a destroyer in the Pacific during World War II.
Scheckel is the chaplain for both the American Legion Post 300 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6791.
Mayor Mike Kwasman presented Scheckel with an original framed newspaper clipping which proclaimed “Peace in the Pacific.”
After hearing a brief description of his experiences while serving, the packed room gave Scheckel a standing ovation.
Scheckel is a living example of the greatest generation — those brave men and women who grew up in the United States during the deprivation of the Great Depression and then went on to fight for our country in World War II. These treasured veterans answered our nation’s call during a time of great need, and gifted us with the legacy of the freedom that we enjoy today.
Roughly 4,000 of them, now averaging 87 years old, reside in DuPage County.
For this reason, Kwasman and other DuPage County leaders have formed a new organization, the DuPage Veterans Foundation, for the purpose of honoring and supporting the men and women of our country who have served in the military. This nonprofit organization seeks to recognize special needs of DuPage veterans and raise funds to show appreciation for all they have sacrificed for our freedom and safety.
The first initiative of the new foundation will be to raise funds to fly World War II veterans for a day of viewing and reflection of the war memorial built in their honor in Washington, D.C. The veterans will be flown free through Honor Flight Chicago,
Scheckel is a member of the committee working to accomplish this, as he himself took an Honor Flight trip in June 2009.
According to his daughter Christine Dettman, “The experience was filled with overwhelming ranges of emotion, from remembering friends lost in the war, the lifelong friendships made, the experiences of battle, tremendous pride for having defended his country, and humbling gratitude for the outpouring of fanfare they all received.”
He also was accompanied on the trip by his son, Michael, who volunteered as a “guardian” on his flight. Scheckel, daughter Christine, and son Chuck Jr. serve on the committee so other World War II veterans will have the same chance he had.
As a way of accomplishing the goal of getting more DuPage veterans to Washington, the DuPage Veterans Foundation plans a fundraiser scheduled for May 5 at the DuPage Airport in West Chicago. Gates will open at 11 a.m. for a display of incredible vintage war planes and other World War II-era vehicles. Lunch with attending veterans will be served at noon, followed by a patriotic program that includes bagpipers, presentation of colors and mail call, plus a headline performance by the Legacy Girls.
To learn more about the DuPage Veterans Foundation and the special event at the DuPage Airport, visit dupageveteransfoundation.org.