It was a day to honor “all who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom” as a crowd of over a hundred people gathered Monday to mark Memorial Day at La Grange American Legion Post 1941’s annual service.
“More than 1.1 million American patriots have died defending our country in wars and combat actions since the American Revolution,” Post 1941 Commander Bill Kiddon told those assembled. “They each have stories to tell; the graves at Arlington, the crosses at Normandy, the fallen heroes who rest in places unknown. We do not forget. We are here today for the 2,300 service members who lost their lives in the attack at Pearl Harbor 85 years ago. We are here for the 450,000 who didn’t return from the South Pacific and European campaigns in World War II.”
Kiddon went on to pay tribute to the men and women who had lost their lives in Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East, and the service members who are currently deployed overseas.
“From Bunker Hill to Bagdad, Americans from communities throughout the United States have answered their nation’s call and made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “We take this day to reflect on ordinary Americans exhibiting extraordinary valor.”
The event came at the end of a morning full of memorials for the nation’s service members who died in combat.
Among area Memorial Day services Monday were a parade and ceremony in River Forest and gatherings at the Peace Triumphant monument in Scoville Park in Oak Park, Lyons Township High School north campus in La Grange, Central Park in Elmwood Park, The Veterans Memorial in Franklin Park, Parkholm Cemetery in La Grange Park, the La Grange Park Veterans Memorial, Lyonsville Cemetery in Indian Head Park, the Hodgkins Veterans Memorial, Carl W. LeGant Memorial Park in Countryside and more.
In La Grange, family members of Post 1941’s namesake, Major Robert Coulter Jr., a graduate of Lyons Township High School, placed a wreath of flowers in honor of Coulter. Coulter had commanded a B-17 bombing group during World War II, eventually losing his life when an enemy plane sheared off the wing of his Flying Fortress, causing it to crash in North Africa.
Sofia Magajne sang the national anthem, post chaplain P.C. Hodson gave the invocation and Kiddon spoke at length on honoring the fallen. Skyler Kiddon, of Post 1941’s Junior Auxiliary, read the World War I era poem “In Flanders Field” by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel Jahn McCrae. Post 1941’s Color Guard performed a gun salute outside.
Kiddon harkened back to the early days of the La Grange post’s Memorial Day observances, which have been a tradition there for 82 years. The generation that came of age in the depression and wound up fighting the Second World War was already somewhat prepared for the task, he said.
“A lot of them had experience in CCC Camps,” he said, referring to the Civilian Conservation Corps, a depression-era government program that ran from 1933 to 1941 for unemployed, unmarried men. “So they kind of understood military life. It was not a shock to them.”
La Grange Trustee Peggy Peterson said this Memorial Day held additional meaning for the family.
“Today’s a special day because my son, who is also a veteran, is at Northwestern Memorial with his wife and they’re expecting their baby boy to be born today,” she said. “So it’s a special day.”
The emotion the event brought forth was obvious in other attendees.
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“I look forward to this program every year,” Beverly Kiddon said. “The message is always beautiful. It brings tears to my eyes.”
Elyse Hoffenberg seconded that emotion.
“It’s just such a special day to reflect and revere our local heroes,” she said. “The Coulter family are going back decades in the La Grange community and Lyons Township High School, it’s so lovely to see them come and present the wreath.
“The commander and this whole Legion are just so near and dear to my heart. I just feel grateful for them to be a part of our community. And I’m also so grateful to live in the country we live in.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.