Lyons honors veterans for their ‘sacrifice and dedication’

By Steve Metsch

On a cool and sunny Nov. 11, Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty, members of Emil Scheive American Legion Post 699 and about 50 residents paused to honor our veterans.

The Veterans Day ceremony held outside the village hall began on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. That’s when World War I came to its conclusion in 1918.

The “war to end all wars,” as it was dubbed, led to our nation remembering veterans on each Nov. 11.

It was first called Armistice Day and later Remembrance Day. It was renamed Veterans Day in 1954, Getty said, and it’s a day that should never be forgotten. Nor should the veterans, he said.

“Today, we celebrate their heroism and selfless commitment to our country,” Getty said, noting that veterans served in “times of war and in times of peace.”

Getty said there are more than 20 million veterans or retired military personnel in our country.

“We honor their dedication to the preservation of freedom and their lasting impact on our nation’s heritage,” Getty said.

“We vow to remember that each day we live in freedom, we owe it to their sacrifice and dedication,” the mayor said.

Gordon Marsh, commander of the Post 699, served in the Marines in 1971 and 1972 during the Vietnam War.

“Today is a memorable day for me,” Marsh, 71, said.

He noted that while veterans of other branches of the service may poke fun at each other, they all had something in common.

“When they bleed, they only bleed one color, red” he said.

Veterans Day is not about politics, Marsh said. Rather “it’s where we pay homage to the people from the great wars and our thankfulness for what they gave up.”

Marsh urged veterans to seek any and all benefits entitled to them from the government.

“You earned it. Go after it,” Marsh said.

Getty presented Marsh and Post 699 with an American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol Building. It was made possible by former U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski, Getty said.

Army veteran Bob Czarny, 79, of Lyons, was among those in attendance.

“It means somebody recognizes us for what we’ve done,” he said.

Czarny served as an Army paratrooper from 1960 to 1963 “before Vietnam started up,” adding, “I was very fortunate.”

Lyons Village Trustee James Veselsky, 74, who served in the Navy during Vietnam from 1968 to 1972, was also fortunate.

“I trained people. … I lucked out,” Veselsky said, noting he was not dispatched to Vietnam.

During the ceremony, guitarist Dave Molinari played and sang “God Bless America” and a moving rendition of “Till Then.”

Bruce Quintos, of Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums, played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.

Rachelyn Primm had opened the ceremony singing “The National Anthem.” Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilera read the Pledge of Allegiance.

Marine Sgts. Eder Carrero and Stacy Yang presented a memorable wreath they placed at the base of the flagpole.

A recording of “Taps” closed the ceremony.

“Always gets me,” Lyons resident Ed Puskaric, 61, said of the mournful song.

“I think about the guys who never made it back. The guys whose moms and dads are still wondering what happened to them. It’s heartbreaking,” Puskaric said.

Puskaric said his late father Ed and brother Charlie both served in the military.

His father was in the Navy during World War II. He served in the South Pacific, helping place buoys to alert ships about dangerous reefs lurking below near islands.

“Veterans Day means a lot to me. … It’s a day when every American should get out and at least honor the country and God. This country wouldn’t be what it was without the blessings of God,” Puskaric said.