A Veteran's Day Morning of Reflection in Chicago Heights

Despite the terrible weather on Veteran’s Day, several Chicago Heights residents gathered in the gym at the Chicago Heights Park District to honor heroes past and present.

Among the room, officers from the Chicago Heights police force and firefighters from the Chicago Heights fire department stood in salute. Two high school’s in Chicago Heights, Bloom and Marian Catholic joined the ceremony.

Preparing to post colors, Raphael Aikens Jr. from Chicago Heights has been in Bloom Township NJROTC all four years of high school. He is the Lieutenant Commander which is the commanding officer for the group.

“A day like today helped me experience a lot of patriotism” Aikens explains. “I also got to participate in many events that reflect on veteran’s.” Four members of the Bloom Township NJROTC attended the ceremony to provide the color guard along with seven others for support.

“Veteran’s day is very special” said Aikens. “The people that are currently serving, have previously served and all the horrific wars such as WW1 and WW2 and the Vietnam war, they’re all heroes.”

A senior at Bloom high, Aikens has already gone through basic training for the Army Reserves. He leaves for Fort Lee, Virginia after graduation in May 2020. He is honored to take part in the Chicago Heights Veterans day ceremony.

Student from Marian Catholic, Rebekah Crane was chosen from her school to sing the National Anthem at the Chicago Heights Morning of Reflection.

“To represent Marian Catholic today is such an honor” said Crane. “Experiences like these truly humble me and allow me to realize how important it is to serve others, despite how you may feel or how others may think of you.”

Crane has had several family members serve in the military from her grandfather that was in the Navy to her brother that served in the United States Marines. Her nephew Anthony is currently serving overseas in the Marine Corp.

“It is important to remember those who gave up everything they knew without the promise of returning home” said Crane. “It is also important to remember those who gave an unconditional and completely pure form of love to the country we call home. Lastly, it is important to remember those who lost their lives so that others can live a life of freedom and bliss. Despite their own fears and anxieties, these men and women gave everything for the sake of others. That is the ultimate sacrifice. Veterans Day means devoting your life to complete selflessness, service, and sacrifice.”

For Chicago Heights Mayor, David A. Gonzalez he has always had a special place in his heart for veterans.

“You just can’t forget all what the veteran’s have done for us” begins Mayor Gonzalez. “There are a lot of veterans out there that need health care. We see a lot of homelessness among veterans. For a lot of these elected officials, we need to step up and help these veterans. They’ve done so much for our country, it’s time for us to repay that debt.”

Currently, Chicago Heights is home to US Department of Veterans Affairs which is community based. Mayor Gonzalez is working to create more opportunities for veterans.

“What I would like to see for the veterans is more housing” explains Mayor Gonzalez. “Chicago Heights is willing to do their fair share. We want to work with agencies such as Cook County and the federal government to get the funds that are needed to provide housing for veterans.”

Mayor Gonzalez said there have been studies done that prove there is a definite need in the south suburbs for housing and health care for veterans in this area.

“We’ve been working with the St. James site, we would like to see something for the veteran’s down the road. We do have a lot of vacant property within the city of Chicago Heights. We’re focused to see where we can create that housing, it might not be at that site but we do have a lot of other sites that we can look at. We’re currently working with Cook County to try and get a program for that.”

As Catholic War Vets, Post 1060 Ladies Auxiliary members came up to hug the Mayor, he reflected on what they and the veterans mean to him. “Today we have to stop and remember. It’s not about a day off, we should be coming out to these events and thanking these veteran’s of what they’ve done for us. It’s a day where I think about the blessings that I’ve had and all the opportunities that I’ve gotten, my family has gotten is because of these veterans.”

Also included during the ceremony, Boy Scout Troop 112 led the Pledge of Allegiance, member of the Troop, Troy Bartee helped Mayor Gonzalez during the Placing of the Wreath. Pastor John Husbands from Calvary Assembly of God said the invocation, Mrs. Pat Lukacek from the Catholic War Vets Post 1060 Ladies Auxiliary read a Veterans Day poem, the Military Squad from the Catholic War Veterans Post 1060 did the closing salute and taps and finally Pastor Frank Montalvo from Calvary Assembly of God in Chicago Heights provided the benediction.