Veterans Information Saturday

April 23, 2022

Finally! After more than two years of COVID isolation restrictions, we were able to gather together, with the goal of sharing information between veterans, their survivors, their families, their caregivers, and service/support organizations. Much has changed. There is much to learn.

The Board of Directors of Veterans Voices Military Group is grateful for the support of the Village of Orland Park, the Orland Park Civic Center Staff, our members, our volunteers, and the participants for the efforts invested in making this event a success. Be assured, many members of our veteran community benefitted from our combined efforts.

 
 

PaSTOR DON BORLING OF ALL SAINTS LUTHERAN CHURCH PROVIDED THE INVOCATION.

(Above) Natalie Ho and Kim McCroy represented the VA Caregiver Support Office at Hines VA.

(Above) Members of the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad proudly represented their organization and their service to the veteran community.

(BELOW) OPERATION WELCOME YOU HOME ADDED SPECIAL FLARE TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES. THEY ALSO HAD AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF PATRIOTIC ITEMS FOR SALE.

 

Visit the archives of Veterans Voices Military Group activities on previous Veterans Information Saturdays and Veterans Appreciation Days by selecting a year (below).
NOTE: Due to COVID restrictions there were no gatherings in 2020 or 2021.

(ABOVE) ACTIVITIES COMMENCED WITH A BEAUTIFUL A CAPPELLO RENDITION OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM BY VOCALIST LAURA KWACZYNSKI

FRANK HAUENSCHILD AND Donna Gesiakowski. PROVIDED UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR HONOR FLIGHTS TO WASHINGTON D.C.

(Above) Our local Veterans of Foreign Wars post was represented by Bill Christie, Jim Baillie, and Ryan Kelly. Ryan is also on staff at Moraine Valley Community College as the coordinator of veterans services.

(Above)TOM DURACKA, VETERANS VOICEs INFORMATION OFFICER, STAFFS THE VETERANS VOICES TABLE.

(Above, left) Jim Kruse of Kruse’s Krew is a stalwart at Orland Park veterans events, as is Jacky Connelly (ABOVE, RIGHT), who heads up Mrs. Jacky’s Soldiers. Both organizations support service members overseas with monthly comfort packageS.

(Above) PAWWS representative Graham was the hit of the event, as usual.

PUBLICITY

(ABOVE) CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE A FULL SCREEN VERSION OF THE PROGRAM.

(LEFT) CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE A FULL SCREEN VERSION OF THE FLIER FOR THIS EVENT.

OUR GUEST SPEAKERS

(ABOVE) ORLAND PARK MAYOR AND CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE KEITH PEKAU SPOKE ABOUT THE IDEA OF AMERICA AND THE VALUE OF SERVICE TO COUNTRY.

(ABOVE) ORLAND PARK VETERANS COMMISSION MEMBER MOHANNED EL NATOUR SPOKE ABOUT HIS SERVICE IN THE ILLINOIS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING.

(ABOVE) ORLAND PARK VETERANS COMMISSION MEMBER LEN HOWARD SPOKE ABOUT HIS SERVICE IN THE COAST GUARD AND THE ILLINOIS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. LEN IS RETIRED FROM MILITARY SERVICE.

LUNCH

(BELOW) LUNCH WAS GENEROUSLY DONATED BY CITY BBQ (143RD ST & LAGRANGE RD, ORLAND PARK) . THERE WAS PLENTY OF DELICIOUS BBQ, SIDES AND DESSERT FOR EVERYONE. WE ARE GRATEFUL BEYOND WORDS FOR THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF VETERANS BY CITY BBQ.

COMARADERIE….

(ABOVE) VETERANS COMMISSION MEMBERS MOHANNED EL NATOUR AND TOM DUBELBEIS SHARE INFORMATION.

(ABOVE) TOUCHING BASE WITH OLD FRIENDS, ANd MAYBE MAKING A FEW NEW ONES.

(ABOVE)VILLAGE OF ORLAND PARK VETERANS PROGRAM ASSISTANT, DARRYL WERTHEIM (LEFT), DISCUSSES SUPPORT OF VETERANS WITH COOK COUNTY DISTRICT 6 COMMISSIONER DONNA MILLER (RIGHT) AND MORGAN WALLER (CENTER), THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.

….AND THINGS OF INTEREST

(AB0VE) VETERANS VOICES MEMBER BRUCE HAFNER DISPLAYED A PORTION OF HIS COLLECTION OF MILITARY ITEMS.


(BELOW) PERSONAL MEMORABILIA WAS ON DISPLAY……

(ABOVE) A VINTAGE U.S. ARMY JEEP, PROVIDED BY “VETERANS GARAGE” WAS ON DISPLAY AT THE EVENT.

……AS WERE ITEMS FOR SALE (SHOWN: OPERATION WELCOME YOU HOME TABLE). (BELOW)

MAY WE NEVER FORGET