Southland Memorial Day events
May 27, 2012 8:20PM
Local Korean War veterans and Jin-hyun Lee, consulate general of the republic of Korea, salute during the playing of "Taps" at the Orland Park Veterans Memorial Sunday, May 27, 2012. | Brett Roseman~Sun-Times Media
Updated: July 3, 2012 11:14AM
ALSIP: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 450 will host ceremonies at noon Monday and noon Wednesday at the Afghanistan-Iraq War Memorial across the street from the post, 11800 S. Cicero Ave. A flag-raising, prayer and speech will comprise the ceremony. Food will be served.
BEECHER: A ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at the Beecher Veterans Memorial, at Reed and Hodges streets. The Beecher High School band will provide patriotic music.
BLUE ISLAND: American Legion Post 50 will host a memorial observation at 11 a.m. Monday at Memorial Park, 12804 Highland Ave. The event will feature a reading of the list of names of deceased Blue Island veterans, a flag-raising and a three-volley rifle salute.
CHICAGO HEIGHTS: A ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday at the New Memorial Wall at Veterans Mound, U.S. 30 and Chicago Road. Veterans organizations and elected officials will speak in honor of veterans.
CHICAGO RIDGE: VFW Post 177 will have a ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 W. 111th St., near Alsip. The ceremony will include a placing of flags on the graves of veterans.
COUNTRY CLUB HILLS: The village and its veterans commission will host a ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at city hall, 4200 W. 183rd St. The ceremony will welcome back veterans from the war in Afghanistan, and a free lunch will be served. The Southwood Gifted Chorale will provide music.
CRETE: A memorial observation and parade will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at Crete Park, 515 First St. The theme of the parade will be “Liberty and Justice for All.” Entries for floats are accepted until the day of the parade, and entry for floats is free. To enter a float, contact Tom Durkin at (708) 672-5479.
EVERGREEN PARK: American Legion Post 854 will host a ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at the post, 9701 Kedzie Ave. The ceremony will begin inside and proceed to the Veterans Memorial outside.
Also, at 1 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, 3401 W. 87th St., there will be a presentation honoring POW MIAs, which will include a wreath-laying, with posting of the colors, speakers and more.
FRANKFORT: The village and Frankfort VFW Post 1493 will host a ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at Breidert Green, Kansas and Ash streets. Afterward, there will be an observation at Pleasant Hill Cemetery (Elsner Road adjacent to Old Plank Trail), which will consist of a 21-gun salute and the lowering of the flag to half-staff. Hickory Creek Middle School will provide music as the names of deceased Frankfort veterans are read. Marine veteran Steven Stigler will emcee the event.
HOMEWOOD: A parade from 10:30 a.m. to noon Monday will begin on Dixie Highway, traveling from Chestnut to Olive roads and then west to Harwood Avenue. It will stop at Veterans Park for a memorial ceremony.
LEMONT: VFW Post 5819 is hosting a bus tour to local cemeteries. It is to depart at 8 a.m. Monday from the post, 15780 New Ave. The tour will conclude with a wreath-laying ceremony at about 10:30 or 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Lemont. All are welcome to attend the bus tour, the ceremony or both.
MARKHAM: A memorial service is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Monday at VFW Markham Memorial Post 9801, 3220 W. 159th St.
MATTESON: American Legion Post 474 will host a Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. Monday at 3539 W. 214th St. The parade will end at Memorial Park, where there will be a ceremony and a cookout with free hot dogs and hamburgers. The Central High School Band will provide music. Call (708) 283-4775 for more information.
MIDLOTHIAN: Members of VFW Post 2580, the American Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW will host a ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday at VFW Post 2580, 14817 S. Pulaski Road.
MOKENA: A parade is slated for 10 a.m. Monday, beginning at Saint Mary Cemetery, 195th Street and Wolf Road, and concluding at St. John’s Cemetery, 203rd Street and Wolf Road.
MOUNT GREENWOOD COMMUNITY: The Elks will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at Mount Greenwood Cemetery, 2900 W. 111th St. in Chicago. The ceremony will include a traditional wreath-laying.
NEW LENOX: VFW Post 9545 and the American Legion will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at Maplewood Cemetery, 14909 Spencer Road.
OAK FOREST: Owen W. Winter Jr. VFW Post 4241 will host a memorial ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Memorial in front of city hall, 15440 S. Central Ave.
OAK LAWN: Johnson-Phelps VFW Post 5220, the post’s women’s auxiliary, and Green Oaks American Legion Post No. 757 will host a ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at the Oak Lawn Bible Church, 9435 S. 54th Ave. There also will be a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Oak Lawn Veterans Memorial on the Village Green, north of the Oak Lawn Public Library at 9427 S. Raymond Ave. Refreshments will be served afterward at VFW Post 5220, 9514 S. 52nd Ave.
ORLAND PARK: The village’s annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Veterans Memorial. Refreshments will be served inside the Civic Center immediately after.
PALOS HEIGHTS: The veterans commission will host an observation at 11 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Memorial across from city hall, 7607 W. College Drive.
PALOS PARK: The Palos Historical Society will hold its 55th Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at Palos Oak Hills Cemetery, 131st Street and Southwest Highway. Also at 11 a.m. Monday, VFW Post 4861 will host an event at the Veterans Memorial on the Palos Park Village Green.
SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS: A ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at the South Chicago Heights Veterans Memorial, Enterprise Avenue and Sauk Trail. Refreshments will be served after the service.
STEGER: The American Legion will host a wreath-laying ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Mound, 34th Street and Halsted Boulevard. Students from Central Junior High will perform music.
TINLEY PARK: The village’s veterans commission will hold a ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at village hall, 16250 S. Oak Park Ave. Patriotic music will be performed by the Andrew High School band, and the guest speaker will be Navy veteran Ed McCullough, a member of U.S. Submarine Veterans. The ceremony will include a wreath-laying, 21-gun salute, the playing of taps and the raising of the flag.
Compiled by Rebecca Susmarski
