Glendale Heights to host a Virtual Memorial Day ceremony

On Monday, May 25, Glendale Heights will be hosting a Virtual Memorial Day Ceremony on their cable access channel (GHTV) and social media channels (@VOGHNews) in lieu of a live ceremony due to COVID-19.

"With so many events being canceled due to COVID-19, I wanted to be sure to properly recognize and honor all of the soldiers we have lost over time. It's the least we could do," said Mayor Linda Jackson.

The Village of Glendale Heights prerecorded a scaled-back version of the ceremony featuring Mayor Linda Jackson, Sgt. John Tautkus of the 82nd Airborne Division Operation Urgent Fury, and Glendale Heights VFW Post 2377 Chaplain Bob Vargas. Also in attendance was Glendale Heights Police Chief Doug Flint and Glenside Fire Protection District Chief Russ Wood.

Additionally, a long time tradition of the Village of Glendale Heights is working with the local school districts to plant flags at Veterans Memorial Park to honor the many men and women who died from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan.

With schools being canceled for the year, the Village of Glendale Heights and the Glendale Heights Kiwanis Club partnered to plant over 7,000 flags. The Glendale Heights Kiwanis Club solicited the community's help to plant the flags in shifts so that proper social distancing could occur.

The Virtual Memorial Day Ceremony will be aired all day on Glendale Heights' cable access channel and posted on their social media channels on Monday, May 25. For more information, please visit www.glendaleheights.org.