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Mayor Mike Kwasman
West Chicago Memorial Day Observance at Okwood Cemetery
May 30, 2011
"It is with great honor that I stand here again in front of my neighbors and
friends surrounded by the heroes of West Chicago, the men and women of the
American Legion and VFW posts. Because of their great sacrifices, I am allowed
to speak freely in the United States.
We know of the accomplishments that these men and women have made only
by rumor, because as true heroes, they never speak of wars and what they have
seen; they do not talk about those that gave the ultimate sacrifice; those that
defended us and now are in God's arms, whether their final resting place was in
the seas or from the air or in some foxhole in a far off land.
Instead they try to talk about happier times, making raisin wine or listening to
Tokyo Rose, not paying attention to her rhetoric, but reflecting on the music that
brought them dreams of home. Rarely do they talk about the comrades that we
all mourn and celebrate their lives on Memorial Day.
Today and everyday, we also should honor on-going heroes who sometimes are overlooked, who have given a sacrifice that few of us can even fathom—the Gold Star Mothers. I have witnessed these brave women, who lay wreathes at monuments all over this great country and cannot imagine the pain and constant suffering that they endure.
We all know these women, who go to send their children off to war. They stand there with pride, with a smile on their faces that only mothers can do because they do not want to show the worry they really have, that beating in their throats, which are their hearts and the choking back of tears as they pray and hope to see their children again. Some do not, and every passing day they will look at that picture of their hero sitting in a place of honor and, and hopefully, the pride that their child did not give all in vain. Today we should honor them as true American heroes—the women who gave all, and show them respect as true patriots.
These children, who gave their lives to defend this great nation, are nothing more than children of grieving parents, who will mourn the passing of these soldiers until they all meet again. And today we mourn with them. This morning we honor these men, these women and children of past conflicts and listen to the sounds of "Taps." Let us reflect upon their parents and may God bless them now and forever.
Today we live in the age of computers and children know more of gaming and fictional heroes than those that fought for them so they have the right to an education and career they want, and all the freedoms we enjoy. Let us keep the stories of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice alive, so generations will honor their memory forever.
God bless America and God bless you, my friends, neighbors and family!" |
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