Veterans brave the cold and snow to be honored in Lindenhurst
The rain, cold and snow couldn’t dampen the honors for nearly 150 people celebrating Veterans Day in Lindenhurst on Monday.
However, the miserable weather did force the annual ceremony to be moved from outside at the veterans war memorial to inside the village’s public works garage at 2301 Sand Lake Road.
The 11 a.m. ceremony honored veterans of all the armed forces with musical tributes from soloist Rebecca Labb and the Lakes Community High School band, as well as speeches from members of the Lindenhurst Veterans Commission.
Keynote speaker Capt. R. Scott Laedlein, commanding officer of the Navy Operational Support Center in Chicago, said veterans and their families play an important role in the stability of America.
“Veterans make up 7 percent of our population,” Laedlein explained. “Those veterans are the primary reason our country continues to be successful.”
Three World War II veterans were in attendance at the ceremony, including Morrie Dorfman who read an inscription from the village’s war memorial to the crowd.
Dorfman, 91, said he was excited to be a part of this year’s program.
“It was a very beautiful ceremony,” he said after the event. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here at this ceremony 50 years ago.”
In addition, two students from Lakes Community High School read poems during the event about the sacrifices veterans and their families make, Boy Scout Troop 87 performed as the color guard, while Pastor Terry Breum of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Lindenhurst read the invocation and benediction.
Mayor Susan Lahr also briefly thanked veterans for their service during the hourlong ceremony.