Nearly 500 people attend event hosted by veterans commission in Orland Park
Orland Park resident Jack Easterhouse, 9, sorted through military memorabilia with his father, Ray Easterhouse, a Marine Corps veteran.
“They're cool, the trinkets,” Jack Easterhouse said. “I like looking at them, the little military things.”
The youngster enjoyed himself as one of nearly 500 attendees Sunday at the Orland Park military expo.
Educating younger generations about military history, as well as helping veterans connect with services available to them are reasons why the village of Orland Park Veterans Commission hosted a military expo, commission spokesman Darryl Wertheim said.
“That's what we're trying to do, we're trying to bring kids in,” Wertheim said.
The event at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Ave., featured a combination of memorabilia vendors, veterans organizations and comfort animals.
Laura Berry brought Molly, a mini Falabella horse from the group Merciful Minis in Homer Glen that travels to military and nursing homes as a therapy animal.
“We bring some joy into the lives of people,” Berry said.
There also were service dogs from the group PAWWS, which stands for Paws Assisting Wounded Warriors.
Equines for Heroes of Palos Hills offered some information about therapeutic horse riding lessons.
Members of the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad offered brochures discussing the free benefit to veterans and their spouses to be buried at the cemetery.
“We're here to let people know about the cemetery, the benefit and possibly to recruit people for our squad,” said Ron Armstrong, of Homer Glen, who volunteers on the squad each Thursday.
Because the cemetery has sometimes as many as 25 burials per day, volunteers are needed to provide a ceremonial burial service at no charge for the family of an honorably discharged veteran. Military service is not required to be a squad member, said Steve Admonis, of Channahon, who is a past commander of the squad.
The Orland Park Public Library offered information about the Veterans' History Project, a series of video interviews that are sent to the Library of Congress. Veterans are encouraged to provide firsthand accounts of their experiences on any topic they chose, according to Judy Brannigan, reference librarian.
There also were private companies, including Aishling Companion Home Care, which offers nonmedical services, primarily to dementia patients, but not exclusively, according to spokeswoman Tonya Regiro.
The organization, based in Orland Park, services Cook, DuPage and Will counties.
Enthusiasts were able to sort through memorabilia from different eras, including military uniforms, patches, helmets and knives, among many other items for display or sale.
“This is a rare one,” said Rob Spinelli, of Brookfield, pointing to a World War I tank uniform.
Spinelli, whose father, Ben Spinelli, of Forest Park, has been collecting military items for nearly 60 years, said the patches on the uniform indicated that the wearer had served for six months and had earned the rank of private.
Another vendor, Jerry Taylor, of Harvey, said he was there to display and sell a bit of history.
Visitors did not have to enter the civic center to enjoy seeing some military vehicles.
Members of the Veterans Garage in Mokena staged trucks to motorcycles on the civic center's front lawn.
“Just the smell takes me back,” one visitor said as looked inside a truck.
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