Memorial Day Commemoration May 28

Veterans, their families and all residents are invited to attend the Memorial Day Commemoriation on Monday, May 28, at 9 a.m. at the Peace Triumphant statute in Scoville Park, located at the corner of Lake  Street and Oak Park Avenue. Sen. Don  Harmon and Viriginia Cassin will participate in the ceremonies. Red Griffin, U. S. Army, Berlin, 1961-64, will be the keynote speaker. The History Singers, John and Kathryn Atwood, will lead patriotic singing.

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Brian Flora, U. S. Army, Vietnam, 1969-72, with his wife Kay Kuhlman, will portray Union veteran Wilbur Fisk Crummer and his wife Emma, who settled in Oak Park after the war. They will lay a wreath in honor of fallen Civil War comrades and freinds. Crummer at age 18 enlisted as a private with the 45th regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted for valor at the battle at Shiloh, and at age 20, was declared "mortally wounded" at the siege of Vicksburg. In Oak Park he served twice as commander of the local Chapter of the Grand Army of the  Republic (GAR),  the national Union veteran's organization.

Bert Patania, U. S. Army Iraq, 2003-4, will lay a wreath with Darlelnle Downs, representing the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to honor the service and sacrifices of the current generation of American servivcemen and women.

Officers from the Oak Park Police Department Honor Guard will form a color guard and present a gun salute. Buglers John Borland and Matthew GoodSmith will play "Taps."