Huntley, Carpentersville Culver's honor veterans

If you've driven past either the Huntley or Carpentersville Culver's restaurants recently, you've seen all the flags.

Although you might think the owners of those restaurants are showing their patriotic pride as Veterans Day approaches Monday, the restaurant chain is actually going a bit further to help support veterans.

But the 323 large American flags, one for each fallen Illinois soldier since September 11, 2001, certainly catches the attention of customers and passers-by.

Culver's assistant manager Richard Myers, who works at the Huntley location, said the flag display means a great deal to area residents who are old enough to fully grasp what they represent, and he also values what it tells his younger employees.

“It's very sobering, it's very eye-opening,” Myers said. “For the kids that work for us it's a real learning experience, very meaningful.”

Culver's is supporting VetsRoll, a nonprofit organization that transports hundreds of America's senior veterans on a free four-day trip each spring to visit war memorials in and around Washington, D.C. Eleven percent of this weekend's sales will be donated to the group, and a special sundae is being created in honor of those who have served the country.

The Patriot Sundae, which features vanilla ice cream along with raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, will be sold this weekend with all profits from that item going to the organization.

Both locations will be hosting ceremonies this weekend to honor veterans, including a procession Sunday down Route 47 in Huntley to the restaurant, along with a flag ceremony and rifle salute. The procession begins at 12:30 p.m. in Deicke Park on Route 47 and heads south to the restaurant.

On Saturday, an hourlong veterans ceremony will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. at Culver's in Carpentersville, 8000 Miller Road.

This is the second year the Huntley location has put the flags on display. The South Beloit location is also participating.