"Honoring Their Lives & Legacy" Tour to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

Photo from L to R: Bill Dearhammer and John Glueckert, Sr. at a mutual friends’ grave.

Glueckert Funeral Home had the pleasure of sponsoring a luxury coach bus-full of Veterans, family members, and friends to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL on September 17, 2014. The excursion began with Jo Ellen Clawes, Auxiliary President of Des Plaines American Legion Post #36, leading guests in the singing “God Bless America.” It was a rousing start to our very special day. John Glueckert, Jr. offered a presentation of Veteran’s benefits, highlighting and stressing the importance of having a copy of the Veterans discharge papers DD-214, how to apply for a presidential memorial certificate, how to be included in the Illinois History Project, and the substantial cost savings of being buried at a national cemetery; a benefit earned by our veterans!

The tour of the cemetery was conducted by office supervisor Lynne Phelan. She was informative in relating the facts of cemetery benefits to which Veterans are entitled, the 15 year history of the cemetery, and how national shrine standards are followed for every burial. The cemetery averages 15-28 burials per day. Honorably discharged veterans are provided the option of receiving military honors from either their branch of service, or the volunteer cemetery honor squad. Our bus tour continued through the 1,000 acre property, stopping at gravesites, committal shelters and columbaria. Ms. Phelan shared information on “Wreaths Across America” and how to donate a wreath that would be placed on a grave at Christmas time. More than 6,000 graves were adorned with a wreath last year. More information is available at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. We continued on, stopping to see the Memorial walk and the beautifully manicured landscape. Before concluding our tour, our guests were able to visit graves of family members and friends. On our way home, everyone enjoyed a delicious box lunch and actively participated in a quiz on the history of the World War II and the Korean War. The day was special and memorable.

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