3,000 salute those who gave all
‘Extremely moving’ ceremony brings out many every year
Communities across the Chicago area held Memorial Day ceremonies, but none may have matched the awe and spectacle of the event at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.
The ceremony included re-enactors dressed in military attire from throughout America’s history, an actor portraying President Abraham Lincoln reading the Gettysburg Address and several flyovers from World War II-era airplanes.
Organizers said the event drew nearly 3,000 people from around the state and Midwest.
“It was phenomenal,” said Lois Duncan, of Crestwood. “I come every year.”
Tracey Lingle, of Mokena, said his father, who was a veteran of World War II, was buried in the cemetery earlier this year.
He said the Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery is best one in the Chicago area and he plans to come back.
It was Burlington resident Hank Cooley’s first time attending.“It was extremely moving,” he said.
“And I plan to come back every year.”
Several speakers presented the Memorial Day address, and one of the most moving was by Iraq War Army veteran Chris Hill.
In 2007 in Baghdad, Hill said, the vehicle he was in while on patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device.
The vehicle flipped over and he and others were trapped inside and came under enemy fire. Fellow soldiers in the following vehicle rushed to rescue them.
Hill was pulled out by a comrade who had been shot in the leg. He said that man
The ceremony included re-enactors dressed in military attire from throughout America’s history, an actor portraying President Abraham Lincoln reading the Gettysburg Address and several flyovers from World War II-era airplanes.
Organizers said the event drew nearly 3,000 people from around the state and Midwest.
“It was phenomenal,” said Lois Duncan, of Crestwood. “I come every year.”
Tracey Lingle, of Mokena, said his father, who was a veteran of World War II, was buried in the cemetery earlier this year.
He said the Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery is best one in the Chicago area and he plans to come back.
It was Burlington resident Hank Cooley’s first time attending.“It was extremely moving,” he said.
“And I plan to come back every year.”
Several speakers presented the Memorial Day address, and one of the most moving was by Iraq War Army veteran Chris Hill.
In 2007 in Baghdad, Hill said, the vehicle he was in while on patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device.
The vehicle flipped over and he and others were trapped inside and came under enemy fire. Fellow soldiers in the following vehicle rushed to rescue them.
Hill was pulled out by a comrade who had been shot in the leg. He said that man
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