The morning rain cleared, revealing a blue sky on Sunday, May 24, for the 7th annual Fort Sheridan National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony in Lake Forest.
The program, organized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, gathered service members and their families to remember and to honor the sacrifice of those who served and lost their lives fighting for our freedom — in a solemn ceremony more commemorative than celebratory.
Along with National Cemetery Administration staff, representatives from the Libertyville VFW Post 8741, Bugles Across America, Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Community Pageants, and National Women Veterans United participated.
“We struggle to find words to express our gratitude to the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, who died defending our way of life, a cause greater than themselves, may they find the sleep of heroes on this sacred ground,” Kevin Griffiths, Master of Ceremonies and Program Specialist, Fort Sheridan National Cemetery, said.
Rochelle Crump, Chief of African American Services, DCFS and president of the National Women Veterans United gave Sunday’s Memorial Day Address.
Among her credits, Crump served in the Women’s Army Corps during the Vietnam War and was employed for 23 years with the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
Crump said, when I think back to how it was when I started as a woman in the military, I know how much work still needs to be done.
“We are here because we care, and we need to remember there are sacrifices still being made by men and by women every day, many who are still struggling,” Crump said.
Andy Barrie of Northwoods Wreaths LLC in Lake Forest produced the Memorial Day Planters which were donated to Fort Sheridan National Cemetery over the weekend.
Barrie and a group of volunteers met at Fort Sheridan on Saturday morning at 9 a.m., to place 82 Memorial Day Planters made up of red, white and blue petunias, and flags at gravesites.
Barrie says the planters will remain at the cemetery until Monday afternoon, at which time they will be refreshed and delivered to the Highwood/Highland Park VFW Post and the nursing home at the Captain James A. Lovell Veterans Hospital.
“This Memorial Day effort is just a small gesture to honor the lives of our fallen heroes,” Barrie said.
Veteran, United States Air Force, Strategic Air Command, Stan Banash of Norridge Park, attended Sunday with his wife, Laura.
“I have come to this cemetery on Memorial Day every year since 1968 to visit the gravesite of my uncle, Michael Banash, a career military man who served in World War II and Korea,” Banash said.
Without question, Banash says, if you don’t take the time to understand military history and its impact, you are bound to repeat the same mistakes again in the future.
“Today we remember, we wouldn’t have a life in a country such as this, if it wasn’t for the sacrifice made by those who served,” Banash said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
