‘We are all family'
At Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, mass military honors ceremony gives final salute to 68 veterans
Standing at the perimeter of Committal Shelter C on Friday morning at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood were dozens of veterans, patriots and residents who had come to give a final salute.
On this day, however, it was not simply a show of respect for a single soldier, but for 68 veterans from all branches of the military and several wars. All were buried there without full military honors — until Friday.
Among them were Army Capt. Cecil Brannen and Pfc. William Hutson, Navy vet Walter Kitchell, and Marine Cpl. Joseph Schwartz, with Stanley Wysocki from the Air Force and Cadet Robert Anderson from the Merchant Marine.
They served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and peacetime. A few served during more than one war.
A bell rang 68 times as the “roll of honor” was read, identifying each individual. There were 37 from the Army, 13 each from the Navy and Marine Corps, two from the Air Force and one from the Merchant Marine. There also was a single flag-draped casket.
Then 21 rifles shattered the solemn atmosphere, and taps elicited emotions as white-gloved members of the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery memorial squad folded the flag.
The mass military honors ceremony is held quarterly for those who may not have had family to request the service, who died alone in a nursing home or who may be homeless. With 15 to 30 funerals each day, sometimes, there are scheduling conflicts, officials said.
Cecilia Seabrook, of Crest Hill, said she “felt cheated” when her father, who served in the Coast Guard in World War II, was buried in the cemetery in 2002 without military honors. That was three years after the cemetery opened and there was no honor guard.
The Daughters of the American Revolution began mass honors ceremonies in 2004, and eventually it was taken over by the memorial squad, formed in 2003.
Today, Seabrook serves as commander of the cemetery's 120-member memorial squad, and provides the ceremony four days a week. The Wilmington VFW conducts the ceremonies each Wednesday.
She is not a veteran, but joined the squad 12 years ago because “I didn't want other families to feel cheated.”
The law requires that every eligible veteran receive military honors ceremonies “upon the family's request.” But when Vietnam veteran Jack Picciolo, of Lockport, discovered how many had no families, he and Seabrook have consistently conducted similar services on a quarterly basis since 2011.
The first such service — for 87 vets — was attended by the honor guard and only two others, one of whom was Picciolo. This prompted him to invite the local VFWs, American Legion, Marine Corps League, and other military and patriot organizations.
Besides encouraging greater participation, Picciolo's goal is to reduce the number of direct burials and provide more individuals with private ceremonies.
Until then, the quarterly services will continue, he said.
“We want to make sure they are not forgotten,” said Bill Porter, a member of the memorial squad, who participates each Monday and every quarter. “It's a chance to pay our last respects to these fallen heroes.”
This was the first such service for Marge Tomich, of Tinley Park, who came with her husband, Don, a Marine Corps veteran.
“It brings a tear to my eye,” she said. “Our son is still serving in the Marine Corps so this means a lot. It's very touching.”
It's meaningful for veterans as well as nonveterans.
“It's tear-jerking, really, every time that bell rings,” said Lee Young, of the Illinois Patriot Guard.
He and fellow patriot guard member David Gier come out to Lincoln Cemetery “all the time” to pay their respects to these “fallen heroes,” even though neither one is a veteran, they said.
Young, who registered but was never called to serve in Vietnam, said, “This is how I serve.”
“It's an honor and a privilege to pay respects to those who gave all,” Gier said.
In addition to the quarterly ceremonies, Gier said he has been part of services for 26 soldiers killed in action, and he proudly displays a few of their faces on buttons on his jacket.
“When you talk to the family and see how much they appreciate this, you know how important this is for the family,” he said.
Those given a final salute in Friday's quarterly ceremony did not have family, but, Gier said, “we are all family.”
The 68 veterans who were honored were:
