Village To Honor 11 Names Added To Memorial Wall In Veterans Day Ceremony

ORLAND PARK, IL — The Orland Park community is invited to join the Village as it honors all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The Village will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave.

"Bringing our community together to recognize these heroes is one of our highest privileges as a village," said Mayor Jim Dodge. "It’s important to honor and remember all who have served our country through Veterans Day."

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. Newly added names are announced during the Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, when the veterans are recognized.

The ceremony will begin with the Presentation of Colors by the American Legion Orland Memorial Post 111, Orland-Palos Reber-Tesmond VFW Memorial Post 2604 and Veterans Voices of Orland Park. The Orland Park Children’s Theater will then perform the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Veterans Program Coordinator Dan Marsan will give a welcome before a blessing by the Rev. Don Borling, pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Orland Park. Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John L. Borling is the event’s guest speaker. Mayor Dodge will read aloud the names of the veterans newly engraved on the wall.

The Village adds the following veterans to the memorial wall:

• Robert G. Geigner, U.S. Navy, 1941-1945
• Joseph J. McCarthy, U.S. Marine Corps, 1942-1945, Medal of Honor recipient
• Roland R. Stemmer, U.S. Army, 1942-1946
• Stanley J. Grant, U.S. Army, 1942-1945
• Robert D. Hill, U.S. Navy, 1944-1946
• Arthur P. Bistyak, U.S. Army, 1964-1967
• Raymond M. Walsh, U.S. Army, 1965-1971
• James J. Hill, U.S. Army, 1967-1968
• Victor Perez, U.S. Air Force, 1970-1978
• David L. Eickstaedt, U.S. Army, 1971-1972
• John F. Kinsella III, Illinois Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force, 2000-2022

Those interested in virtual participation can watch the program live on the Village’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/VillageofOrlandPark. A recording will be posted on the Village’s social media accounts after the live stream.

In addition to the Village’s annual ceremony, Mayor Dodge will make/made appearances at various Veterans Day events throughout Orland Park, including:

• 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6: Veterans Day Ceremony/Dinner, Jerling Junior High School, 8851 W. 151st St.
• 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9: Veterans Day Ceremony, Park Elementary School, 9960 W. 143rd St.
• 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10: Veterans Day Ceremony, High Point Elementary School, 14825 West Ave.
• 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10: Veterans Day Ceremony, Orland Junior High School, 14855 West Ave.
• 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10: Lunch with the Mayor, special guest state Sen. John Curran, Papa Joe’s, 14459 LaGrange Road
• 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Ceremony, Prairie School, 14200 82nd Ave.
• 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Ceremony, Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave.
• 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Ceremony, Kruse Elementary School, 7617 Hemlock Drive
• 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13: Veterans Day Ceremony/Breakfast, Century Junior High School, 10801 W. 159th St.

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. The name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day honors all former military service members.

Ceremonies are traditionally held on the “11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour” to mark the moment the armistice between the Allies and Germany took effect, ending the fighting of World War I. Questions about the ceremony may be directed to the Orland Park Veterans Advisory Board at 708-403-5000 or veterans@orlandpark.org.