Diverse Veterans Day happening around Elgin

There are several Veterans Day events scheduled this weekend in Elgin and South Elgin:

• Watch City Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1307 will have a Veterans Day dance today at the post home, 1601 Weld Road in Elgin. The dinner starts at 6 p.m., followed by dancing with music by a DJ. Admission is $10, which includes dinner. For tickets, call (847) 888-9809. Tickets also available at the door.

• Members of the Elgin American Legion Post 57 will have a Veterans Day banquet Saturday at the American Legion Post No. 57, 820 N. Liberty St., Elgin. The banquet will start with cocktails at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and a program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $13 per person and are available by calling (847) 741-1684.

• The city of Elgin, along with its Veterans Committee, will host a Veterans Memorial Park groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday in a parking area just west of the Gail Borden Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. A special Veterans Committee was created early in 2006 to oversee the development of Veterans Memorial Park. For details, call (847) 931-6100, ext. 5601.

• At 11 a.m. Sunday, there will be a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Veterans Memorial next to the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin.

• South Elgin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and Ladies Auxiliary will have a Veterans Day service at 10 a.m. Sunday at Panton Mill Park, across from the village hall, 10 N. Water St. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the village annex, 1 Water St.

• In a special five-hour Veterans Day broadcast on Sunday, WRMN 1410 AM will air "Tribute to The Troops," a salute to those who served and those still serving today.

The live broadcast airs from noon to 5 p.m. Jeff Myers, John Prigge and George Rawlinson will help host the show.

The scheduled guests include, among others, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, state Sen. Michael Noland, state Sen. Chris Lauzen, state Rep. Ruth Munson, state Rep. Tim Schmitz, and Allen Lynch, a Vietnam veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

Anyone wishing to salute a veteran, share a story or pay tribute to someone serving today can call WRMN on Veterans Day at (847) 931-1410.

• The Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin, will show the R-rated movie "Letters from Iwo Jima" from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Community Rooms. Taken from actual letters, this intense war drama portrays the point of view of the Japanese soldiers during World War II. It will feature a discussion led by veteran Gordon Schnulle. Those under age 17 must be accompanied by a parent. Refreshments will be served to celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps' 232th anniversary.

For details, call (847) 742-2411 or visit www.gailborden.info.