Family and friends cheered as Mark Holt of LaGrange Highlands was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Saturday at a ceremony close to home.
Holt, a 2011 graduate of Lyons Township High School, said he opted to mark his special occasion in La Grange Park’s Memorial Park amphitheater so more family and friends could attend. Fortunately, the weather was perfect.
“I liked the location in the heart of the area where I grew up,” he said. “I wanted to hold it out in the open, because we were hoping for 70 to 75 people to come.”
Holt graduated in August from Western Illinois University with a degree in criminal justice, after completing a summer internship in security measures. He said he also enrolled in training as an officer candidate for the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. the past two summers.
“I was inspired to join the military by my grandfather on my dad’s side, who served in Korea. He was in every major battle,” Holt said. “They didn’t have a word for it, but he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
“After reading his letters and seeing what he went through, I almost felt a sense of duty to serve,” Holt said. “He never talked about his service to us.”
Holt said a number of his relatives on both sides of the family served in the Armed Forces, including his sister, Jennifer Holt, who enlisted and serves as a technical sergeant in the Air Force. Deployed in Qatar. she is now a registered dietitian working at a Veterans Administration hospital in Colorado, he said.
“She will be giving me my first salute, and I will be presenting her with a silver dollar as a sign of my respect, according to the tradition of the ceremony,” he said.
Holt said he was especially pleased his grandmother, Florence Holt, was able to attend the ceremony with his grandfather’s medals and commemorative flag, so he could be honored.
Other family members present were Holt’s parents, Jean and Thomas, and his siblings, James, Margaret, Sarah, Kathleen and Bridget Ceredon.
After attending Highlands Elementary and Middle schools, Holt said he served as the captain of the cross country and track teams at LT and at Western Illinois University. He enjoys running and outdoor activities in his free time, he said.
In the next several months, Holt said he will report to Quantico for six months of additional training before heading to flight school for two years at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla.
“Flying is something I’ve definitely always wanted to do,” he said. “I’ll either be in an F/A-18 or Prowler.”
James Zwit and Raymond Wielgos, who launched La Grange Park’s Veterans Memorial, said they wanted to surprise and recognize Holt’s commitment to serve with a brick engraved with his name to be installed on the plaza. The memorial in the northeast corner of Memorial Park salutes veterans, those who are presently serving and leaving room to add those who have yet to enlist in all branches of the Armed Forces.
Holt said he was surprised and touched with the announcement, and will look forward to visiting the memorial and seeing his brick. The memorial is maintained by the Community Park District of La Grange Park.
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“It was a very thoughtful gesture from the park district, and it feels great to have the support of my community,” he said.
Twitter: @janemichaels22