Veterans

The ninth annual Huntley VetFest will be from 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday.

The annual motorcycle run will take off from the Grundy County Fairgrounds in Morris and end at the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles.

Julia Ritz joined the U.S. Navy in 1989 during the Gulf War era. Her career included active duty at Hurlburt Field with Air Force Special Operations Command following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

The STC Six breweries will launch their 2025 collaborative beer, a West Coast Pilsner benefiting Support Over Stigma, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling in St. Charles.

Future center for veteran services is being created in vacant office building that was part of the former Silver Cross Hospital campus in Joliet.

Several hundred community members lined downtown streets across from the Yorkville Town Square, urging passing vehicles to honk and cheer in solidarity during the No Kings Day protest in Yorkville on Saturday.

While shining a light on the father of Flag Day and Batavia’s storied past, it was the hands of the town’s youngest citizens, turning tight a 50-year time capsule, best embodying the town’s patriotic promise.

The American Legion will be serving grilled pork chops, plain or barbecued, cheesy potatoes, vegetable, roll, salad and dessert from 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 13.

Rachael Mellen, president of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, will be the featured speaker at the La Salle County Genealogy Guild’s monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21, in Ottawa.

Some liken it to the military chest-pounding commonly seen in North Korea, a step toward authoritarianism or a perverse birthday party for Trump

Ben Jankowski of Woodstock received a Purple Heart medal for his service in Vietnam War. Now facing a leg amputation, Jankowski received ramp donated and built by The Home Depot.

Ben Jankowski is a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient who has to have a leg amputated soon, so The Home Depot donated and built a ramp for him, facilitated by the Veterans Network Committee of Northern Illinois.

A pair of special dedications honored veterans Sunday, June 8, 2025, at the Veterans Park in Dixon.

A pair of special dedications honored veterans Sunday, June 8, 2025, at the Veterans Park in Dixon.

The Plano American Legion held Memorial Day ceremonies at Veterans Walkway and at Little Rock Cemetery in Plano on May 26.

When DeKalb police officer Jesus Rodriguez returned to work after a yearlong hiatus serving his country overseas, he was greeted with a surprise: a packed lobby full of his colleagues, cheering him on as he walked through the front door

Service and sacrifice runs deep in Grant Park youngster regarding Memorial Day.

A complete makeover transformed the former village hall building into the new breakfast and lunch restaurant, which soon will add a dinner menu for evening service. A free monthly breakfast for veterans is one of the special perks.

Five years after his death, the ashes of John Kirnbauer, a man of which little is known, are set to be placed in the Kankakee Memorial Gardens' Field of Honor during a Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery.

A York Community High School history teacher and a Vietnam War veteran are raising money for a new memorial honoring the 114 graduates of the Elmhurst school who died while serving in the military since World War II.

Over 100 people gathered for a ceremony dedicated to the late John Kirnbauer, a veteran whose ashes went unclaimed for five years, on Monday, May 26, 2025, at Kankakee Memorial Gardens.

It took just over seven minutes to read the 137 names of veterans that have died during the past year with ties to Kankakee County.

Wreaths were laid at two locations and one was thrown into the Rock River on Monday, May 26, 2025 to honor the sacrifice and service of veterans during the Oregon VFW’s Memorial Day program. The day’s event also include a program at the Riverside Cemetery, patriotic music by the Oregon High School Band followed by a family-themed celebration at the Post home. Events were also held in Polo and Mt. Morris.

A Vietnam veteran warns about taking freedom for granted and that those who died in military service "deserve to be remembered forever" at the Crest Hill Memorial Day program.

Veterans were honored during the annual Kankakee County Veterans’ Council annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Kankakee County Courthouse on Monday, May 26, 2025.

For many Monday, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, a day off work and a chance to haul out the grill. But it’s not a day of celebration, reminded area veterans and dignitaries at DeKalb’s annual Memorial Day ceremony.

The village of Romeoville will be hosting the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall for one week in August.

Veterans of World War II and the Vietnam War spoke in support of Jewish service members at a Joliet synagogue and encouraged people to consider the real meaning behind Memorial Day.

DeKalb County-area veterans groups, cities and organizers will host Memorial Day events throughout the county for the public to come together to honor all who’ve died in service to the country. Memorial Day is May 26.

Mark Hutson of Woodstock is on a mission to document every military service member from McHenry County who has died in service, going back to World War I.

Casey’s General Store in Cortland is spreading some good will to a veterans charity and DeKalb food pantry after a winning $349 million lottery ticket was purchased at the store.

All donations received during the distribution of red poppies is returned to the veterans through the organizations’ service programs.

The Field of the Fallen has been set up in Cary, where it will remain this Memorial Day weekend to honor service members killed in action.

With a number of ceremonies, parades and speakers planned throughout the Sauk Valley on Memorial Day, here is a list of what local communities will be doing to remember the fallen.

Thousands of motorcyclists will ride in Rolling Thunder Demonstration Parades throughout the country this Memorial Day weekend.

Dylan Blackburn of Dixon owns DK9services, a company specializing in obedience training and behavior modification for dogs. For the past several years, he has volunteered his expertise to the Pups for Veterans program.

Polo High School juniors researched veterans' stories and then shared those stories with their classmates as part of “The Grateful Nation Project” – a nationwide effort honoring those who gave their lives while serving.

Ottawa is showing support for veterans through the annual Poppy Days campaign, which will raise funds for local veterans services and the Honor Flight program. Mayor Robb Hasty officially recognized the effort with a proclamation during Tuesday's council meeting.

Yorkville’s annual Memorial Day ceremony begins 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 26 in Town Square Park, 301 N Bridge Street. Last year, hundreds attended the event to commemorate those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and to honor military veterans and their families.

Many World War II artifacts will be on display, including tanks, trucks and cannons.

The Lake County Health Department, along with community partners, is excited to launch Operation Dropbox donation drive to support local veterans.

Higher costs and economic uncertainty cited as reasons John Whiteside Memorial Golf Outing currently falling shot of fundraising goals needed for the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26, at the Grandon Civic Center in Sterling. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ikaika Tautua, serving with the U.S. Army Sustainment Command at the Rock Island Arsenal, will be the guest speaker.

In his column this month, Sterling City Councilman Jim Wise asks Sauk Valley residents to take a few moments on Monday, May 26, to pay tribute to the fallen with somber respect and dignity.

Her passion for teaching turns her classes into hands-on learning experiences that embrace a wealth of topics designed to nurture well-rounded students.

A Memorial Day Ceremony to honor the sacrifices of the nation’s fallen heroes is being hosted by the Batavia VFW Post 1197 on May 26.

A veterans benefits fair is being hosted by the Batavia VFW Post 1197 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 2 at the VFW Post, 645 S. River Street, Batavia. The event features over 50 vendors.

Over 150 people attended the dedication ceremony for the new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Bourbonnais, completed by 17-year-old Alexis McCullough for her Eagle Scout project, on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Marcotte Park.

Over 200 people gathered outside the McHenry Veterans Affairs Clinic with signs and flags Sunday afternoon to protest against potential nationwide staff cuts to the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Veterans and their advocates rally against potential workforce cuts at the VA, which President Trump's administration has said will streamline services for veterans, but which detractors worry will add further strain to the system.