DuPage County towns salute veterans
It was the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 when armistice ended the fighting in what has come to be known as World War I. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 Armistice Day, when all work would be suspended for two minutes at 11 a.m.
In 1921, during preparations for creating the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Congress declared the day a federal holiday honoring all those who participated in the war.
In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day.
That is the history, as described on the U.S. Army's Web page, of the day that groups throughout the suburbs mark with events to honor the contributions of those who served.
These are the events planned in DuPage County:
Today
Wheaton
• The Center for History will hold a tribute luncheon for all war veterans as part of its "Dignity, Service & Valor" project at 10:30 a.m. today at the center, 315 W. Front St., Wheaton. Veterans, their families and interested volunteers are invited. The event is a time for sharing artifacts, memorabilia and stories of recollections from home and abroad during war. Since 2002, the center has been preserving recollections of men and women who served our country in time of war. The project is designed to document the experience of veterans and their families, record both audio and video histories, expand the center's collection of war artifacts and archival materials. For details, call (630) 871-6601.
• Wheaton College's Rolling Thunder Battalion will salute American veterans at 4 p.m. today at the entrance to the Sports and Recreation Center, Chase and University streets, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 752-5121.
• The DuPage County Historical Museum Association will hold the DuPage County Salute to Veterans from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the museum, 102 E. Wesley, Wheaton. This year is a special tribute to Vietnam Veterans in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam War Memorial. The program features Cisco Cotto of WIND and a musical performance by Joe Cantafio. For details, call (630) 682-7343.
Friday
Naperville
• American Legion Post 43 will hold a continental breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday at the Naperville Unit District 203 administration building, 203 W. Hillside Road, Naperville, followed by flag-raising ceremonies at all District 203 schools. For details, call (630) 357-5366 or (630) 357-4615.
• Naperville Park District, in cooperation with the Judd Kendall VFW Post, holds a flag-raising ceremony at 10 a.m. at the park district administration building, 320 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. The park district's Springbrook and Naperbrook golf courses in Naperville also will give veterans a 50 percent discount on green fees Friday through Sunday. For details, call (630) 848-5000.
Roselle
• Lake Park High School students and other volunteers with American Legion Post 1084 in Roselle will raise money Friday for the Gifts to the Yanks Who Gave program operated by the American Legion Illinois headquarters in Bloomington. They will be collecting donations outside train stations in Roselle, Medinah and Itasca. The funds are used to buy necessities for hospitalized veterans throughout Illinois. The items are sorted into packages that are delivered to vets over Christmas.
Saturday
Carol Stream/Wheaton
• The American Legion Post 76 in Carol Stream is conducting a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park, 208 W. Union Ave. in Wheaton. The short ceremony will include a wreath laying in front of the Doughboy statue. For details, call the American Legion Post at (630) 682-0076.
Sunday
Addison
• VFW Post 7446 in Addison is conducting a service at 11 a.m. Sunday for Veterans Day with Addison Mayor Larry Hartwig at Veteran's Circle, Lake Street and Addison Road. Following the remembrance, there is an open house at the VFW, 446 W. Lake St., Addison. For details, call (630) 628-9804.
Wheaton
• Cantigny Park will offer free parking all day to celebrate Veterans Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. For details, call (630) 668-5161 or visit www.cantignypark.com.
Glendale Heights
• Glendale Heights will remember all veterans with a service at 11 a.m. Sunday in Veterans Memorial Park, 220 Civic Center Plaza, Glendale Heights. The services will be conducted by Glendale Heights VFW Post 2377. For details, call (630) 894-1358.
Glen Ellyn
• Glen Ellyn American Legion Post 3 will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Veterans Memorial in Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. Glen Ellyn Police Department's Color Guard will post the colors, the mother of an Iraq Veteran will say a few words and members of Glenbard South High School's band will perform. Area Cub Scouts also will donate flags, and the village's Volunteer Fire Company and Legion members will assist. The program includes guest speaker Del Miller. For details, call Bob Kent at (630) 469-3991.
Naperville
• American Legion Post 43 and Naperville VFW 3773 will conduct a ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday at Veterans Park, 203 E. Gartner Road, Naperville. The ceremony will be followed by a light lunch for veterans and their families at the VFW hall, 908 Jackson Ave., Naperville. The traditional Veterans Day dinner will start with a social hour at 6 p.m. at the VFW hall. The cost is $12 per person. For reservations, call (630) 236-3665.
Villa Park
• VFW Post 2801 will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the post, 39 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park. For details, call (630) 834-8191.
Oakbrook Terrace
• Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday in the Victory Garden, 17W201 Roosevelt Road, Oakbrook Terrace. The event will include prayers, speakers and the laying of a wreath at the cemetery's Veterans Wall. For details, call (630) 941-5860.
Warrenville
• At 11 a.m. Sunday, Warrenville will host a ceremony to honor veterans and current military members at the Veterans' Memorial on Stafford Place outside city hall, 3S258 Manning Ave. The local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8081 will conduct the ceremonies with full military protocol.
Monday
Villa Park
• VFW Post 2801 and the Oak Park Vet Center will present Welcoming Home Veterans: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the VFW post, 39 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park. Five speakers will discuss topics such as the psychological affects of war, educational benefits for military families, job opportunities for veterans and an overview of services available at the Oak Park Vet Center. Question-and-answer periods will follow each presentation. For details, call Tom King at (630) 530-8789 or Pat Wasisco at (708) 383-3225.
Lombard
• The village of Lombard Veterans Day ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Volunteer Plaza, Main Street and St. Charles Road. Participants include American Legion Post 391, Lilac VFW Post 5815 and village President William Mueller. The Rev. Jerry Bimber from Lombard Church of the Nazarene will give the convocation, and the keynote speaker will be Rick Frank, VFW State Adjutant. A reception follows at the Grove Family Restaurant, 2 St. Charles Road. For details, call Kate Burke at (630) 620-3083 or visit www.villageoflombard.org.