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Local Schools, Organizations Honor Mount Prospect VFW Post 1337


Link Elementary School students listen to local veteran Dutch DeGroot talk about Veterans Day during an event at the Elk Grove Village school Nov. 11. The event and program put on by the post was attended by 680 students.

The 11th Day of November each year has been designated as a day to salute the nation’s veterans.

Many local schools and civic organizations have a long history of sponsoring events to honor military heroes. They have discovered, however, that one day is simply not sufficient for all of them to do that.

This year, in a week-long series of special programs, 12 area schools, along with the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights, the veterans of Mount Prospect Post 1337 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars were welcomed and thanked for their service and sacrifices.

As the name implies, each member of Post 1337 served at least one tour of duty in a combat zone during wartime.

The celebrations began on Wednesday and Thursday (Nov. 6-7) at Central and Terrace elementary schools in Des Plaines and MacArthur Middle School in Prospect Heights with assemblies of the students, faculty and staff joining in a series of presentations and programs. On Saturday (Nov. 9) morning, the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights hosted its annual Veterans Celebration Breakfast. Many veterans are residents of Lutheran Home and many more local vets, including Post 1337, were invited to attend.

This event featured 224 veterans enjoying a meal and had an opportunity to share memories with other local vets. Included in the program was a salute to the United States Marine Corps in recognition of its 244th birthday and a Soldiers Cross Ceremony.

On Monday, Veterans Day, post members were honored at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Hunting Ridge and Jane Addams elementary schools in Palatine, Windsor Elementary School in Arlington Heights and Link Elementary School in Elk Grove Village. The veterans who participated in these assemblies, presentation and programs were all thrilled and somewhat humbled by the honor.

Back home, Post 1337 and Mount Prospect American Legion Post 525, supported by the Mount Prospect Park District, co-sponsored a Veterans Day ceremony at Lions Park.

About 60-plus local veterans attended and were joined by Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene Juracek and Police Chief John Koziol.

Included in the program was local soloist Elvira Ponticelli who led more than 55 area veterans in several patriotic songs. The keynote speaker was retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dutch DeGroot, who reminded the vets of the importance of honoring the Stars and Stripes by standing and rendering a military salute whenever the flag is presented and when the National Anthem is played.

DeGroot also said that the veterans should be sure to explain to young children who are family members or whom they otherwise may encounter what a veteran is and how our military keeps them safe.

His remarks were followed by a luncheon to honor attendees for their service that was sponsored by the Mount Prospect Police Dept.

Later in the week, Post 1337 vets attended assemblies and presentations at Orchard Place School in Des Plaines, Anne Sullivan Elementary School in Prospect Heights and at Lincoln Middle School and St. Raymond School in Mount Prospect. More than 25 members of Post 1337 attended one or more of the events.

Any qualified veteran interested in becoming a member of Post 1337 or Post 525 may contact DeGroot at: service_officer@vfw1337.us.

 

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