During a weekend flourish of patriotic celebrations, parades and marches, a small group gathered at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery on Saturday morning, under pristinely blue skies, for some quiet remembering in honor of our fallen heroes.
The George W. Benjamin American Legion Post 791 of Northbrook and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10236 of Northbrook, gathered friends and family, and local scout troops for their annual flag placement ceremony, a Memorial weekend tradition for over 50 years.
Michael Korman, retired United States Navy Master Chief Petty Officer and bronze star recipient attended Saturday’s ceremony and said he lost 17 under his command while serving in Iraq.
“On Memorial Day we think about what it means to be free, about what’s going on in other parts of the world like the Ukraine, and about the fact that freedom is not free,” Korman said.
“We leave a part of ourselves, our sweat, blood and tears, infused into those places where we have served, that’s what is left behind to preserve our freedom,” Korman said.
Tom Mahoney, past commander and post chaplain of The George W. Benjamin American Legion Post 791, helped organize the event, and said they memorialize members of the Northbrook community going all the way back to the Civil War, and including World War I, World War II, Korea, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the Iraq War.
“The ceremony honors those who are no longer here, those who have served and died,” Mahoney said.
A prayer, taps and a brief history of Memorial Day, was also shared during the flag posting ceremony.
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Memorial Day, established in 1866, a federal holiday originally called Decoration Day, established at the end of May, when flowers were in bloom and could be used to decorate the grave sites of soldiers who died in defense of the United States.
Many children participated in posting flags at the grave sites and members of local Scout Troops 463 and 182, also participated.
Children were instructed on identifying headstones and correct flag placement, and asked to take a moment after placing the flag, to thank or salute that individual for their service.
One hundred military graves were decorated with flags at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, with additional flags taken and distributed at other Northbrook cemeteries _ North Northfield Cemetery, Northfield Union Cemetery and the Techny Cemetery, located on the grounds of the Society of the Divine Word.
According to Mahoney, the flags were placed at graves, marked or known to be military, although it was not a requirement to have served in combat.
Post Commander and retired United States Army Lt. Colonel, James Ossey, says when someone approaches him and says thank you for your service, he always responds, thank you for your support.
After 31 years in the military with 5 years deployed in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Ossey admits he sees things now with a different perspective.
“Sometimes it feels that someone may say the words, thank you for your service, without really thinking about what those words mean,” Ossey said.
“What it means to be here, to share this good life we enjoy, today is a day for honoring the sacrifice that makes that possible,” Ossey said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.