FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Village of Orland Park to Host Veterans Day Ceremony November 11

Orland Park, IL (November 3, 2023)- The Orland Park community is invited to join the Village as we honor military veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. The Village of Orland Park will host their annual Veterans Day ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 11. Names newly added will be unveiled on the granite walls bordering the Village's Veterans Memorial, Ara Pace – Place of Peace, located in the Village Center at 14700 S. Ravinia Ave. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.

"The Village's Veterans Day ceremony is a longstanding tradition that we're privileged to host," said Mayor Keith Pekau. "It’s important to come together as a community and remember all who have served our country."

Orland Park's veteran memorial displays the engraved names of veterans, living and deceased, from across the country who served in all branches and in all wars. It is during the Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies that the newly added veterans' names are announced and the veterans are recognized.

“The community is encouraged to join us in observance as we honor our area veterans,” said Pekau. “We are honored to add more names to the memorial wall. Every single name engraved on the memorial wall has a story to tell and deserves respect and recognition.”

The ceremony will be held indoors this year at the Orland Park Civic Center, located at 14750 S. Ravinia Avenue in Orland Park. Those interested in virtual participation can view the program on the Village’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/@VillageofOrlandPark. Those who are subscribed to the Village’s YouTube channel will be automatically notified of the live broadcast. A recording will be posted on the Village’s social media accounts and YouTube channel after the live viewing.

The ceremony will begin with the Presentation of Colors by the American Legion Orland Memorial Post 111 and Orland-Palos Rebber-Tesmond VFW Memorial Post 2604.  The Pledge of Allegiance will follow after resident Tina Fisher performs our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.

Dan Marsan of the Orland Park Veterans Commission will give a welcome before a blessing by Reverend Don Borling, Pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Orland Park.

Mayor Pekau will read aloud the names of the veterans newly engraved on the wall.

Veterans to be honored and their names added to the memorial wall are:

• Thomas Robert Queeney
• James Thomas Boylan
• Reginald Miller
• Thomas Hooker
• Edward F. Cygan
• George G. Bacho
• Steven C. Bacho
• Darryl F. Wertheim

The honor guard’s rifle volley, a customary tradition in which three volleys of shots are fired in honor of deceased veterans, will follow.  The event will come to a close with the singing of God Bless America, and the retiring of colors. Finishing the ceremony will be "Taps" by bugler Allen DeNormandie, U.S. Navy Veteran and Member of Veterans Voices Military Group of Orland Park.

Veterans Day originated as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day honors all former military service members. The name of the day of honor was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Ceremonies are traditionally held on the "11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour," to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning.

Questions about the ceremony may be directed to Tom Dubelbeis at 708/403-6115.

Contact:

Nabeha Zegar

Director of Communications & Marketing / PIO

nzegar@orlandpark.org       

708/403-6286