Lake Bluff American Legion Post 510, Post Commander David Cimarrusti honored all veterans on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the Gazebo on the Village Green in downtown Lake Bluff.
Guest Speaker Colonel Donovan Phillips, US Army and a 1998 West Point graduate, addressed the importance of freedom. Colonel Donovan reminded those gathered of the Armistice signed in 1918. It was concluded at the time that WWI was the war to end all wars. But this was not to be in the 97 years that followed Armistice Day.
Colonel Phillips maintained that it’s not a foregone conclusion that the light of freedom, so-far passed from generation to generation, will remain strong. The responsibility of this generation is to insure the light will not be snuffed out.
Cited were these four debts we owe our veterans:
Gratitude: It was deplorable how veterans were treated when returning home from the Viet Nam war. Over the years our nation has learned to understand the difference between policy disagreement and the need to honor those who had found it their duty to follow policy.
Honor: Each serviceman deserves to be honored for their sacrifice and service as they leave behind family and loved ones to serve a cause greater than themselves.
Follow example of veterans: Serve your community by volunteering in your community.
Listen: Laid to rest at the Netherlands American Cemetery are 8,301 of our fallen troops from WWII. Every single grave site has been adopted by a family in Holland. There is even a waiting list to adopt grave sites, which goes far beyond the act of adoption.
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With obvious trepidation, Post Commander David Cimarrusti reported 12 Lake Bluff American Legion Post 510 members had died in the past twelve months.
Nancy J. Thorner
Lake Bluff