Streamwood Memorial Day ceremony recognizes past, future service
Streamwood’s annual Memorial Day observance, held on the 35th anniversary of the village’s veterans memorial, recognized not just our military’s past but also its future.
Sunday’s observance was special, since the U.S. is celebrating its 250th anniversary. The village also added new flag to the Veterans Memorial — the United States Space Force.
“It stands as a reminder that the spirit of service continues into a new generation and even new frontiers,” retired Navy Captain Kathryn Serbin, the master of ceremonies, said.
Another addition was a series of Hometown Hero banners along Irving Park Road.
One banner recognized the service of longtime Streamwood Trustee James Cecille, who served as an Army PFC in the 1960s.
Village Trustee Mary Thon spoke, looking back on those who served throughout the nation’s history. She noted the contributions of Black soldiers and those who served after they were forced into Japanese internment camps during World War II.
Thon said her nephew, Army Sgt. Timothy Thon, served in Afghanistan, where he was wounded.
“He still deals with the emotional and physical injuries from that war,” she said. “However, when I asked him about the war, he said, ‘Aunt Mary, it's my greatest honor. I served with men and women all over, and they are my brothers and sisters for life.’”
Once again, the event featured the table ceremony in honor of prisoners of war and those missing in action. A round white table was set for five, with each chair representing those missing from each branch of the service.
A vase held a single rose, symbolizing the blood that was shed, while a slice of lemon on each plate represented the bitter fate of those captured or missing and a pinch of salt the tears and loneliness of their families.
“Memorial Day reminds us that liberty is never free,”.Serbin said. “It is secured by ordinary citizens who showed extraordinary courage, many of whom never returned home to their families and communities.”
The Spring Valley Concert Band and the 144th Army Band of Illinois provided music, while Retired Army Specialist 4 Richard Clyburn delivered the invocation.
VFW Posts 5151 and 2202, the Streamwood police and fire departments and the Medinah Highlanders Pipes and Drums led the general march procession.
Kiera Moore sang the national anthem, and the proceedings also included a three-volley salute and the playing of taps.
Among those attending the ceremony was Hanover Park resident Dave Warkel, a member of VFW Post 5151 in Streamwood who served a combined 34 years in the Army and Air Force, including duty in Korea during the Vietnam era and later in the Air Force during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
“To me, it was duty and honor to my country,” he said.
He remembered serving with military police in Korea during the Vietnam conflict.
“There were ambushes every now and then. Nobody ever talked about it,” he said.
He said many of the men he grew up with and served with are gone, some of them dying from illnesses linked to Agent Orange.
Former Streamwood Trustee David Stoves, who served in Vietnam and now lives in Florida, returned for the ceremony.
Stoves, a Specialist 4 in the Army who served with military police, said he served on Tan Son Nhut Air Base
“We lost 25 guys in one night right beside me,” he said.
The men were blocked off in an alley when they were attacked by grenades. He said he was in a Jeep and was able to grab a machine gun and escape. He said it took him a long time to recover emotionally — he still has pictures remembering the men on his phone.
“I’m very thankful for the chaplains in the military, because they helped me get over that.”
Tom Jackson of Streamwood said he was 19 when he went to Vietnam, where he served with the Big Red One.
“It’s kind of a sad reunion, but it’s necessary,” he said of the ceremony. “Streamwood is great. I think they got the nicest memorial around.”