Residents of La Grange, Western Springs and nearby towns paid their respects to fallen veterans at local Memorial Day ceremonies.
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The West Suburban Concert Band played patriotic music at the ceremony Monday at the Tower Green in Western Springs.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10778 hosted the event, which included Village President Alice Gallagher reading the names of Western Springs residents who have died throughout the centuries while serving their country.
Post 10778 Cmdr. Esteban Lopez explained the significance of Memorial Day.
“The misconception is it’s just a three-day holiday and a celebration of the Armed Forces,” Lopez said. “But it’s a day of mourning for the Armed Forces. It’s not barbecues, it’s not parties, and not welcome to the summer. We tried to convey that is what the Memorial Day observance is.”
Following the reading of the names, veterans fired a rifle salute and then played taps.
After he spoke, Lopez said, people told him, it was a great speech. “It was no speech,” said Lopez, whose remarks were unwritten and unprepared.
Former La Grange Police Chief Mike Holub, too, spoke about the meaning and history of Memorial Day, and what it was like to serve in the Honor Guard in Washington, D.C.
Members of the Robert E. Coulter American Legion Post 1941 led Memorial Day services at Lyons Township High School’s North Campus, Parkholm Cemetery and the Veterans Memorial in La Grange Park, at Lyonsville Cemetery in Indian Head Park, at the post headquarters in La Grange and other locations over the weekend.
