Wood Dale celebrates its veterans at annual breakfast

For Ed Apolinski of Chicago, Saturday was a time to catch up with some of his military buddies and reminisce.

The Chicago native and World War II Army veteran has served as a chaplain of Wood Dale's Veterans of Foreign Wars Tioga Post 2149 on and off for the better part of 55 years.

"We all try hard to stay in touch with each other as best we can," Apolinski said during Wood Dale's annual Veterans Day Breakfast at Salt Creek Golf Club.

Roughly 200 veterans from three lodges, VFW Tioga Post 2149 and Post 5167 in Itasca, as well as American Legion Post 1205, attended the city-sponsored event. It's one of several such events scheduled in DuPage County during the next few days.

Some came to spend time with friends, make small talk about the Bears, and vent a little about the recent elections.

"You know what's funny, most people don't deal well with change," said Ralph Borgatel, a former American Legion state vice commander. "But here we are as a country, voting in somebody who ran on change ... I'll tell you what, if this guy (President-elect Barack Obama) doesn't pull a whole lot of rabbits out of his hat, the Republicans will be back in office in two years."

Others, like Apolinski, preferred to keep the talk lighthearted.

"I don't want anybody to have any hard feelings," he said.

Nearly all in attendance had their thoughts centered around the upcoming Veterans Day holiday and those military servicemen and women in active duty.

"My thoughts are with them today," said Bill Burde, a member of the VFW Post 2149 color guard. "I know exactly how they must be feeling."