Arlington Heights resident Greg Padovani is expected to begin his Thanksgiving Day at sunrise at the Naval Station Great Lakes, where he will transport 35 sailors to the village’s American Legion Post 208 for a day of entertainment and a holiday feast with all the fixings.
Padovani, 64, a U.S. Army veteran, married father of two, and the co-owner of PENS Communications Systems, LLC, is known around the village for his tireless community service, which he humbly attributes to his fellow volunteers in a hometown he frequently describes as “wonderful.”
Q: Tell us about some of the community service projects you are involved with as a volunteer.
A: In the area of veterans, I’m the chairman of the Arlington Heights Veterans Memorial Committee, and I’m involved with A Soldier’s Journey Home. I also organize the village’s annual Memorial Day Parade and the Veterans Breakfast. Another project that’s close to my heart is the American Legion color guard’s funeral honors. We offer a 21-gun salute by a rifle squad, and the folding and presenting of the flag to the veteran’s family. It’s a very profound and moving experience to meet these families. It’s very emotional.
Q: There seems to be quite a bit of discord this Thanksgiving, with folks still bickering over the results of the presidential election. Do you have any advice?
A: My mantra has always been, ‘stop whining, get involved and make a difference yourself.’ You need to get involved in making the world a better place, no matter what you think of the results of the election or the state of the economy. This is especially true in stressful times, like after 9/11 and the economic crash of 2008. The hard times are when it’s even more important to try to make a difference.
Q: What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?:
A: I’m most thankful for my family, for the wonderful country we live in, and for all the people in town I know and volunteer with. It’s not me, but all of the people working together to make Arlington Heights such a wonderful town.
kcullotta@tribpub.com
Twitter @kcullotta
