Orland Park To Honor 13 Names Added To Veterans' Wall In Memorial Day Ceremony

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park officials invite residents to

The Orland Park community is invited to join the Village this Memorial Day in remembrance of those who gave their lives in service to our country. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at the Village’s memorial, Ara Pacé – Place of Peace, located outside Village Hall at 14700 S. Ravinia Ave.

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“On Memorial Day, we pause to remember the sacrifice of the men and women who gave their lives defending our nation,” said Orland Park Mayor James Dodge. “I invite our community to join us as we honor their legacy and express our deepest gratitude for the freedoms they helped protect.”

The names of veterans recently added to the Village’s granite memorial wall will be read aloud during the ceremony. Those interested in attending in person are encouraged to arrive before the start of the program. Seating for 200 guests will be provided, though attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs. Those wishing to attend virtually may view the ceremony live on the Village’s YouTube channel.

The ceremony itinerary includes:

• Welcome Address: Dan Marsan, Veterans Program Coordinator for the Orland Park Veterans Advisory Board and U.S. Navy veteran
• Posting of Colors: American Legion Orland Memorial Post #111, Veterans Voices Military Group and VFW Reber-Tesmond Post #2604
• National Anthem: Orland Park Children’s Choir
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Invocation: Father Ed Mikolajczk from Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Orland Park
• Wreath laying
• Guest Speaker: Daniel Miller, Sgt. Maj., U.S. Marine Corps, retired
• Memorial Day Reflections and Reading of Newly Engraved Names: Mayor James Dodge
• Service Song Medley: Orland Park Children’s Choir
• Closing Ceremony: Taps performed by member of America Legion Orland Memorial Post #111, followed by a 21-gun salute
• God Bless America: Orland Park Children’s Choir

The Village of Orland Park recognizes the following veterans whose names were recently added to the memorial wall:

• William J. Wesley, U.S. Army, 1951-1954
• William M. Wesley, U.S. Navy, 1972-1978
• Anthony A. Wesley, U.S. Army, 1979-1982
• Joseph R. Ward Jr., Civil War, 1861-1865
• Raymond Edward Arndt Jr., U.S. Air Force, 1969-1972
• Clifford E. Brown, U.S. Navy, 1988-1992
• Daniel Pechnyo, U.S. Army, 1942-1951
• Francis Joseph Gentile, U.S. Army, 1942-1945
• James Robert Kaczmark, U.S. Army, 1967-1973
• Dennis Daniel Rangel, U.S. Army, 1961-1962
• Lawrence James Krull, U.S. Army, 1967-1970
• Joseph T. Cistaro, U.S. Army, 1955-1958
• Joseph E. Cistaro, U.S. Army, 1987-present

Families may pick up their veteran certificate of recognition upon the conclusion of the Memorial Day ceremony.

In celebration of Memorial Day and the nation's semiquincentennial commemoration of 250 years of American independence, the Village will also host the Red, White & Blue BBQ Fest and Parade on Saturday, May 23, at Centennial Park West, 15609 Park Station Blvd., Orland Park. The free event will feature a community parade starting at 10 a.m. along Park Station Blvd. with more than forty parade units, an amateur rib cook-off competition, live entertainment, children’s activities and food trucks, with a closing ceremony and fireworks starting at approximately 9:15 p.m. For more information, contact the Veterans Commission at (708) 403-6115 or visit orlandpark.org.