During his first Veterans Day as Orland Park mayor, former member of the Illinois Army National Guard Jim Dodge said he felt proud of the village’s long-term dedication to service members’ sacrifices.
“Orland Park takes honoring veterans pretty seriously, and it always has,” Dodge said Tuesday.
As part of the ceremony, the names of seven veterans were added to the Orland Park Veterans Memorial outside Village Hall as part of a longstanding tradition. Medal of Honor recipient Allen J. Lynch also spoke on the importance of cherishing American freedoms won through sacrifice.
“This is our day,” Lynch said during the event. “Those of us who are still alive — this is our day when we get to be told thank you by our fellow citizens. This is a time when you can thank your next-door neighbor.”
Lynch alluded to recent political unrest over policies of President Donald Trump’s administration, asking that those in attendance and watching via the village’s live stream to “understand how blessed we are.”
“All of us who wore the uniform put our lives on the line,” Lynch said. “And as a result, we have the right to be free. And we can hold No Kings in America rallies all over the place without fear of going to jail.”
Dodge echoed many of Lynch’s sentiments, adding that “the freedom is not free.”
“It is secured by the people who are willing to serve,” Dodge said. “And we honor that memor, we honor this tradition, we honor our country by building communities that welcome veterans.”
He said he was proud to continue adding names to the Veterans Memorial. This year’s honorees: Larry L. Lorimer, who served with the Marine Corps from 1992 to 1999; Michael R. Pihl, who served with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1970 to 1972; Daniel A. Badon, who served with the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968; Victor A. Panaras, who served with the Army from 1960 to 1963; Joseph Ward Sr., who served with the Army from 1861 to 1865; and Matthew Wells, who served with the Army from 1864 to 1865.
Also added was Joseph C. Kmiecik, whose children Karen Enyart and John Kmiecik nominated him be honored for his Army service in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953.
Enyart said Kmiecik laid communication cables that helped maintain command and control across shifting battlefronts. At one point during the war, he was captured was held prisoner for 30 days before escaping.
“We wouldn’t be here if he didn’t do that,” Enyart said, tearing up as she clutched a framed photo of Kmiecik.
Enyart said she was grateful her dad’s name would be added to the Orland Park memorial to “immortalize him, so that his name will forever be there.”
Beyond the village’s ceremony Tuesday, celebrations of veterans were organized on days this week and last week within Orland Park Elementary District 135 schools including Century Junior High School, Orland Junior High School, Jerling Junior High School, Meadow Ridge School, Prairie School and Liberty Elementary School.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
