thedrifter
07-13-08, 08:23 AM
Medal of Honor veterans get special thank-you
By Eileen O. Daday | Daily Herald Correspondent
Published: 7/13/2008 12:02 AM
During a moving patriotic ceremony, 32 of the nation's 103 living Medal of Honor recipients were honored Saturday in Arlington Heights.
The ceremony was held between races at Arlington Park, where racing fans broke into spontaneous applause and gave a standing ovation during the formal flag presentation, led by a Marine Air Control Group.
One by one, Marines in their dress uniforms marched forward to present each veteran with a flag flown over U.S. military soil. The public address announcer simultaneously read "I Am The Flag Of The United States of America," a patriotic poem by Howard Schnauber, and a Marine Corps favorite.
This was the second time Medal of Honor recipients were honored at the track. Both racetrack Chairman Richard Duchossois and President Roy Arnold are veterans, and they convened later Saturday night during a fundraising dinner to raise money for the Medal of Honor Foundation.
"It's an honor to have them," said Arnold, a 30-year Marine Corps veteran.
"We believe in the ideals of the foundation, and of promoting courage, selfless sacrifice, and patriotism."
On Friday, the group visited with hospitalized veterans, as well as local high school teens at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights and at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect.
Boston resident Tom Kelley spoke to nearly 150 summer school students at St. Viator. He described the ambush during the Vietnam War where he suffered severe shrapnel wounds and lost one eye. He also talked about his current duties as Veterans Services Department secretary in Massachusetts.
"I talked to them about service and moral courage," Kelley said Saturday, "and of having the courage to do the right thing, whether you're in combat or not."
Bruce Crandall of Olympia, Wash., met with members of the Prospect football team. He is the most recent living recipient, having received his award from President Bush in February 2007, 41 years after the Vietnam battle in which he earned it.
His actions were recreated in the 2002 movie, "We Were Soldiers," when actor Greg Kinnear played his role. As a result, most of the teens were familiar with his story.
However, Crandall talked about the broader mission of selfless service.
"I told them that people who earn this award don't get it because they want it," Crandall said.
"They have to do something to earn it."
Ellie
By Eileen O. Daday | Daily Herald Correspondent
Published: 7/13/2008 12:02 AM
During a moving patriotic ceremony, 32 of the nation's 103 living Medal of Honor recipients were honored Saturday in Arlington Heights.
The ceremony was held between races at Arlington Park, where racing fans broke into spontaneous applause and gave a standing ovation during the formal flag presentation, led by a Marine Air Control Group.
One by one, Marines in their dress uniforms marched forward to present each veteran with a flag flown over U.S. military soil. The public address announcer simultaneously read "I Am The Flag Of The United States of America," a patriotic poem by Howard Schnauber, and a Marine Corps favorite.
This was the second time Medal of Honor recipients were honored at the track. Both racetrack Chairman Richard Duchossois and President Roy Arnold are veterans, and they convened later Saturday night during a fundraising dinner to raise money for the Medal of Honor Foundation.
"It's an honor to have them," said Arnold, a 30-year Marine Corps veteran.
"We believe in the ideals of the foundation, and of promoting courage, selfless sacrifice, and patriotism."
On Friday, the group visited with hospitalized veterans, as well as local high school teens at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights and at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect.
Boston resident Tom Kelley spoke to nearly 150 summer school students at St. Viator. He described the ambush during the Vietnam War where he suffered severe shrapnel wounds and lost one eye. He also talked about his current duties as Veterans Services Department secretary in Massachusetts.
"I talked to them about service and moral courage," Kelley said Saturday, "and of having the courage to do the right thing, whether you're in combat or not."
Bruce Crandall of Olympia, Wash., met with members of the Prospect football team. He is the most recent living recipient, having received his award from President Bush in February 2007, 41 years after the Vietnam battle in which he earned it.
His actions were recreated in the 2002 movie, "We Were Soldiers," when actor Greg Kinnear played his role. As a result, most of the teens were familiar with his story.
However, Crandall talked about the broader mission of selfless service.
"I told them that people who earn this award don't get it because they want it," Crandall said.
"They have to do something to earn it."
Ellie