Veterans Day events to be held this week
By DAILY CHRONICLE
Veterans are sought to speak
DeKalb County veterans are invited to share their experiences at Sycamore High School’s Veterans Day observance Tuesday.
The day’s events will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the flagpole in front of the school, where the color guard will lower the flag to half-staff.
At 8 a.m. in the cafeteria, musical performances by the school’s choir and string ensemble will take place alongside book and archival displays.
Veterans’ talks will help students better understand how veterans obtain the freedom the country enjoys today.
Interested veterans should contact Jerry Pelan at the Sycamore Administration Building at 815-899-8100 or 815-895-3318.
Library to host veterans’ talks
“Saluting Our Veterans” will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday at DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St. Local World War II veterans will speak about their experiences.
• Tuesday, Foster Looney, an Air Force veteran, will bring photos and medals to show.
• Speaker Wednesday is Don Schoo, an Army veteran, who will bring memorabilia and photos.
• Ivan Prall, on Thursday, will talk about his photos and medals.
The series is free and open to all ages. For more information, contact Kathy Keyes at 815-756-9568, ext. 26, or kathyk@dkpl.org.
Ceremonies will be held
Veterans Day obserances will be held at 10:59 a.m. Wednesday at the DeKalb County Courthouse, which will include patriotic readings and songs, and at 11 a.m. at the flagpole at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb.
Sycamore resident and World War II veteran Joe Bussone will give the greeting at the Sycamore event. Vietnam veteran Craig Rattenbury will give the prayer. The principal address will be given by the Rev. Stephen R. Persson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Sycamore.
Museum to host open hours
The Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Society will be open additional hours in honor of veterans from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the museum at 622 Park Ave. in Genoa. The public is welcome. For information call 815-784-5559.
Natural history museum sets day of events Wednesday
Veteran’s Day activities will be held during museum hours Wednesday at the Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State St., Sycamore.
The museum will honor veterans with special programs. A recent news release said the highlight of the day will be a presentation, beginning at 1 p.m. by Sycamore resident Joe Bussone about the history of Veteran’s Day. Bussone will be joined by war veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and others, who will speak about what Veteran’s Day means to them. One essay, from among those written by fifth-graders at South Prairie School and on display during the day, will be read during the program.
National Geographic’s documentar,y “Arlington Cemetery – Field of Honor,” will be shown at noon and 1:45 p.m. in the Rotary Theatre. Members of the Army will speak from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. about military life.
Children can have their faces painted with camouflage face paint and can make an American flag craft.
All of these activities are included in museum admission. Veterans and current service members will be admitted free of charge on Veteran’s Day.
Contact: 815-895-9777.
Help for veterans available
• Veterans Support Group meets from 7-8:30 p.m. the second Tuesday each month at Ben Gordon Center, 12 Health Services Drive in DeKalb. This free group assists veterans with additional mental-health and substance-abuse support. For more information, visit www.bengordoncenter.org
• Free oil changes for veterans will be available from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday at 13 area businesses. Veterans must bring proof of military service; trucks, vans and diesel engines are excluded. For a list of businesses, visit www.daily-chronicle.com/features/scene. Northern Illinois University Veterans Assistance Office and DeKalb County Veterans Assistance Commission will answer questions and provide free food to veterans at Auto Clinic, 901 E. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb; at 2 p.m., organizers will recognize a veteran who won a car.
• Veterans Administration assistance is available from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays each month at Famiy Service Agency’s Senior Services Center, 330 Grove St. in DeKalb. No appointments are needed.
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