Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health
  • Chicago ranks as 161st worst city for crime in new national survey Chicago
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Kat Abughazaleh raises over $520,000 in Q2 of 2025 with more than $630,000 cash on hand for 2026 Democratic primary election elections
  • Silent Threat: The True Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries — How to Stay Safe and Respond to a Battery Fire Fire

“We pause to remember”

Posted on June 2, 2017June 2, 2017 By Steve Metsch No Comments on “We pause to remember”
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

“We pause to remember”

Lyons, Bedford Park honor fallen on Memorial Day

By Steve Metsch

In communities around the area Monday, men and women who gave their lives for our county were remembered with somber Memorial Day services.

Such was the case in Lyons, at the eternal flame on Ogden Avenue, and in Bedford Park, at the veterans memorial at Archer and Roberts roads.

The occasion caused veterans like James Koc, 56, of Lyons, to recall seeing firsthand many in Europe seeking the freedoms enjoyed by Americans.

“I served eight years in the Army. I was in Europe stationed on the Czech border. It’s weird. At that time, there were countries who didn’t want their citizens to leave. Today brings that to mind for me,” said Koc, a member of Stickney American Legion Post 687.

“When I was in the Army, you had a fence going across Europe and guard towers. People don’t realize that. That’s one of the things our military took down,” he said of The Berlin Wall, which fell in 1989.

Koc was in Lyons at the flame located near the pumping station. He and family members heard brief comments from the Emil Scheive American Legion Post 699 and Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty.

“It’s truly an honor we all come together on this day,” Getty told the crowd of about 100.

“On Memorial Day, we honor those who served. But the main reason for Memorial Day is to remember those individuals who served in the armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their life. These individuals gave their lives defending our country, defending our liberties and defending our freedoms,” Getty said.

“Today, we give specific pause to pay tribute. We pause to remember those loved ones and heroes who never returned home. They sacrificed everything for us, for all Americans and for our great country and all our freedoms. We thank them. We remember them. We support them. And, most of all, we honor them,” Getty said.

Guitarist Dave Molinary then led the group through “God Bless America” before a Marine placed a wreath at the eternal flame.

Charles Gerny, commander of the Scheive Post, called Monday “a day of remembrance for all our soldiers, men and women who never came back. And the ones who passed in peace time, too. A lot of people think it’s the beginning of grilling season, which it’s not. It’s a day to remember our comrades we lost. And we remember the people who are still POW, MIA. We have to remember them, too.”

A similar sentiment was found earlier Monday in Bedford Park.

Mayor Dave Brady noted that Monday would have been the 100th birthday of President John F. Kennedy, who served in the Navy during World War II

“President Kennedy, in his inaugural speech in 1961, stated ‘ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ Veterans are people who have done that and we greatly appreciate their efforts,” Brady said.

Summit Mayor Sergio Rodriguez, who also spoke, agreed: “My dad’s a veteran, he served in Vietnam, and I have an uncle, other family members who have served. I appreciate men and women who put their lives on the line,” Rodriguez said.

Brothers Brian and Marc Ponczek took photos of the memorial brick bearing the name of their late father, Bernard, who served in the Army. They sent the photos to siblings around the country.

Brian, of Willow Springs, held the helmet their father wore in the Army. “We always bring it out for remembrance,” said Brian, who also wore a replica jacket of one his father wore in the Army.

Bedford Park village trustees Tony Kensik, who served in the Marines, and Terry Stocks, Air Force, laid a colorful wreath of flowers at the memorial after Brandon Willis, of Bedford Park, played “Taps” on a bugle.

A sophomore at Moraine Valley Community College, Willis, 19, said he is always honored when asked to play the mournful, haunting song: “It’s touching. t’s good to dedicate a day to remember what was given. It’s the least I can do.”

Desplaines Valley News

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at [email protected]
Steve Metsch
Latest posts by Steve Metsch (see all)
  • Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are still rockin’ - August 10, 2023
  • Weathering personal storms - July 20, 2023
  • Countryside solution irks some - July 20, 2023
NPV: 84
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News Tags:Lyons, Mayor Christopher Getty, Mayor Dave Brady, Memorial Day, summit

Post navigation

Previous Post: Bargains found at Summit Flea Market
Next Post: Exelon recognized for consumer driven website services

Related Posts

  • Ray Hanania Radio Show on iTunes, Arab Radio WNZK AM 690 in Detroit and WDMV AM 700 Radio in Washington D.C.
    Live Arab Radio focusses on Secretary of State Blinken Middle East peace mission Blogger
  • Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia Lyons President Chris Getty
    Lyons Mayor Chris Getty Hosts Town Hall meeting with Congressman Garcia and local officials Cook County
  • Consume Cannabis Co. Oakbrook Terrace offers a dispensary experience unlike any other. Photo courtesy of Consume Cannabis, PR News Wire
    New State-of-the-Art Cannabis Dispensary Coming to Chicago Suburbs Business
  • Music returns to Lyons News
  • "Someday Comes Paradise" Graphic Novel Released on February 2nd, 2021
    Announcing New Graphic Novel, “Someday Comes Paradise” Books & Films
  • Nazareth rallies, advances in Class 5A News

More Related Articles

American Arab Chamber of Commerce President Hassan NIjem welcomes homeowners at the Mosque Foundation Tax Refund Workshop organized by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and the Chamber Friday Nov. 5, 2021 at the Mosque Foundation Mosque Foundation hosts Pappas, Chamber property tax refund program Business
Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas Cook County’s Annual Tax Sale to be Postponed for Seven Months Cook County
Congressman Sean Casten Casten announces endorsements from 40+ local elected officials and community leaders Cook County
Education professional Mohammed Jaber Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits  Education
The Chicago Wolves rallied to defeat  the Iowa Wild 4-3 in overtime Sunday Feb. 25, 2024 at Allstate Arena. The Wild led the game 3 to 0 going in to the 2nd period, but the Wolves rallied and tied in the 3rd period forcing the 5 minute sudden death overtime. Wolves broadcasts return to WPWR-TV for 2025 – 26 season Chicago
Moraine Valley Community College’s Fire Academy wins award. Photo courtesy of Bryan Lowery Moraine Valley Fire Academy graduate earns state medal of valor Education

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 2025
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    October 29, 2025
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured
    October 28, 2025
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday
    October 26, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme