On Saturday a handful of veterans, their friends and families gathered in Burr Ridge to remember all those who have served in wars as well as those who continue to serve.
The holiday, originally known as Armistice Day to note the end of World War I, was a chance for local leadership to reflect on the importance of the armed services from the past and into the future.
“Just remember what the veterans have provided for the country and what they will continue to provide in the future,” said Mike Monday, the master of ceremonies Saturday and the Burr Ridge Veterans Committee Chair.
The event was held at 11 a.m. .— the official end of the WWI hostilities — at the Burr Ridge Veterans Memorial outside the Village Hall and while the November weather was about as perfect as could be for the time of year, Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso reminded those in attendance the event is somber.
“It’s a joyous day with the weather, but it’s not a joyous day because we need our veterans so often, too often, keep our peace,” Grasso said. He noted that veterans liberated the country initially and continue to fight for its interests overseas even as politically, divisions deepen at home.
“Too often, in our country we are divided,” Grasso said. “I am in my early 70s and this is the first time in my life, I am wary. I am wary for our democracy.”
Among those in attendance was John Curin, a Korean War veteran who recalled the heavy cost of the conflict on his own training group.
“I lost a lot of friends,” he said. Curin recalled he survived in no small part to luck of the draw as he was put to work in engineering and managed to avoid the same danger as many in his cohort who went to fight in the infantry.
Curin recalled a phone call he got from his training commander.
“He said, ‘Curin, you’re lucky because half of the infantry you went in with are dead,'” he recalled. “So I thank God I got switched from the infantry to the engineers.”
Consequently, he said he looks at the annual November celebration as a bittersweet thing. Grasso noted as much in his comments.
“We gather, and we should gather, on days like today because we need to remember that humans can do the most wonderful thing in history and they can also do the worst thing in history, to our men women and children.”
While the United States has so far managed to avoid participating in any current wars, wars continue and the mayor reminded the audience they’re not yet a memory as armed conflict continues anew.
“You would think by now people would want peace, but they don’t,” Grasso said. “So, I thank, on behalf of the Village of Burr Ridge, all of our veterans who are serving and who have served. … We gather today, a great day for weather but in not a great day, because we still have to honor our veterans and we will continue to need them.”
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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