Remembering Their Service: Orland Park Holds Veterans Day Ceremony

ORLAND PARK, IL — The Orland Park community is invited to join the Village as they honor all who have served. The Village of Orland Park will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11. Names newly added will be unveiled on the granite walls bordering the Village's Veterans Memorial, Ara Pace – Place of Peace, located in the Village Center at 14700 S. Ravinia Ave. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.

"The Village's Veterans Day ceremony is a longstanding tradition that we're privileged to host," said Mayor Keith Pekau. "It’s important to come together as a community and remember all who have served our country."

Orland Park's veterans memorial displays the engraved names of veterans, living and deceased, from across the country who served in all branches and in all wars. It is during the Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies that the newly added veterans' names are announced and the veterans are recognized.

“The community is encouraged to join us in observance as we honor our area veterans,” said Pekau. “We have new names to add to the memorial wall this Veterans Day. Every name engraved has a story to tell and deserves respect and recognition.”

The ceremony will be held indoors at the Orland Park Civic Center, located at 14750 S. Ravinia Avenue in Orland Park. Those interested in virtual participation can view the program on the Village’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/users/villageoforlandpark. Those who are subscribed to the Village’s YouTube channel will be automatically notified of the live broadcast. A recording will be shared on the Village’s social media accounts and YouTube channel after the live viewing.

This year’s ceremony will begin with the Presentation of Colors by the American Legion Orland Memorial Post 111 and Orland-Palos Rebber-Tesmond VFW Memorial Post 2604. The Pledge of Allegiance will follow after Orland Park resident Tina Fisher performs the national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.

Dale Carver of the Orland Park Veterans Commission will give a welcome before a blessing by Reverend Don Borling, Pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Orland Park.

This year's keynote speaker is renowned author and Vietnam veteran General John Borling. General Borling will speak of his P.O.W. experiences and perspective during his time in Vietnam.

Mayor Pekau will read aloud the names of the veterans newly engraved on the wall.

Veterans to be honored and their names added to the memorial wall are:

• Clifford S. Randall
• Robert James Evans
• Joseph J. Liccese
• Robert E. Dubelbeis
• Charles F. Nelson

The honor guard’s rifle volley, a customary tradition in which three volleys of shots are fired in honor of deceased veterans, will follow. The event will come to a close with the singing of God Bless America, and the retiring of colors. Finishing the ceremony will be "Taps" by bugler Allen DeNormandie, U.S. Navy Veteran and Member of Veterans Voices Military Group of Orland Park.

After the ceremony, General Borling will welcome attendees to a book signing for his book "Taps on the Walls: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton" which will be available for purchase for $25. Coffee and cookies will also be provided.

Veterans Day originated as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day honors all former military service members. The name of the day of honor was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Ceremonies are traditionally held on the "11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour," to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning.

Questions about the ceremony may be directed to Darryl Wertheim at 708/403-6115.