Orland Park to add 7 names during Memorial Day ceremony
The Orland Park community is invited to join the village this Memorial Day in remembrance of those who have given their lives for our country.
The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 30, at the village’s memorial, Ara Pace – Place of Peace, located outside of Village Hall at 14700 S. Ravinia Avenue in Orland Park.
“We are honored to pay tribute to the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country,” said Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau. “We are grateful for their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their family members, and look forward to gathering as a community for this poignant remembrance event.”
The names of the seven veterans that have been recently added to the Village’s granite wall will be read aloud during the ceremony.
Those interested in attending in person should arrive before the start of the program. Those who choose to attend virtually can view the program on Village’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/user/villageoforlandpark.
The itinerary is as follows:
- Welcome address will be offered by Dale Carver, U.S. Army Retired Lt. Colonel and Chairman of the Orland Park Veterans Commission
- American flag raising by American Legion Orland memorial Post 111 and VFW Reber-Tesmond Post 2604
- National Anthem sung by Laura Kawczynski
- Pledge of Allegiance
- A Blessing will be offered by Reverend Don Borling, Pastor, All Saints Lutheran Church
- Wreath laying by Dan Braglia, U.S. Navy Veteran/ Commissioner – Orland Park Veterans Commission
- Guest Speaker James D. Hannigan, U.S Army Lt. Colonel/Sandburg High School Class of 1998
- Memorial Day Reflections/Reading of Newly Engraved Names by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, U.S. Air Force Veteran, Captain
- God Bless America performed by Laura Kawczynski
- Closing Ceremony-TAPS by bugler George B. Bowater III, Bugles Across America
The village will add the names of the following veterans to the memorial wall:
| James John Rzonca | U.S. Army | 1955-1957 |
| Michael F. Kosowski | U.S. Army | 1967-1973 |
| Michael A. Lew | U.S. Marine Corps | 1975-1978 |
| Bill Frank Szlenk | U.S. Marine Corps | 1943-1946 |
| James Richard Baillie | U.S. Army | 1967-1969 |
| James E. Thompson | U.S. Army | 1967-1970 |
| Perry Carver Mason | U.S. Army | 1967-1969 |
Families may pick up their veterans certificate of recognition upon conclusion of the Memorial Day ceremony.
For more information, contact Darryl Wertheim, Veterans Program Assistant, 708-403-6115, dwertheim@orlandpark.org or visit www.orlandpark.org.
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