Veterans Day, November 11, 2014, at the Niles Memorial Waterfall

VFW Post 7712 held its annual observance on Tuesday, the 11th, at 11am at the public space to honor America's fallen and those who wore the uniforms of the United States. The new Post Commander Tom Amarante and Chaplain Chris  Hanusiak are pictured below.

Mayor Andrew Przybylo and other civic dignitaries also addressed the citizens in attendance.

The head of the Color Guard, Angelo "Ginger" Troiani,  looks to the Commander as the Guard prepares to step forward  to launch the ceremony. Later in the week, Mr. Troiani received the Bob Wordel Living Legend Award at the Niles Night of Roses, sponsored by the Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The 8th Annual Veterans History Project Breakfast

The Niles Public Library presented its 8th Annual Veterans History Project Breakfast on Thursday morning, November 6, 2014, to honor the community's heroes and especially those participating in the national memoir service of program. After a very moving roll call recorded by Young Adult Librarian Donna Block and placed at  http://youtu.be/w31wuhmqwrs,  Sasha Vasilic, the library's Digital Marketing Coordinator, stepped up to take the group  picture.

Seated in the front row from left to right are Bill Shipp, Martha Shipp, Celine Tymczuk representing her late husband Wally, and Felix Priola. Sitting in the second row from left to right are Irv Abramson, Dr. Irwin Williger, Don Spitzer, Matthew Wojtaszek, Jack Weinberg, Tom Vana, Dick Vana, and Art Shapiro.
In the 3rd row seated from left to right are Rich Hyland, Sam Schechter, Charles Matz, retired Army Lieutenant Bette Horstman, who also represents her late husband Henry, Judith Carlson, representing her late father Norman Berkman, and Ken Lee.

Standing in the back row are Chuck Jacobs, Mike Lake, Ken Radnitzer, Russell Zapel, Jerry Levin, and Mike McNulty. Albert Dominick also attended but does not appear in the picture.

The breakfast was co-sponsored with Tracy Sember and the Regency Rehabilitation Center of Niles. Chris Hanusiak, President of the Friends, announced a renewed and increased donation of $500 to  Honor Flight Chicago. Inspired by their special guests, the effective teamwork of the Niles staff ensured a tasty breakfast was served with efficiency and charm. Library Director Susan Dove Lempke officially welcomed the veterans and the Legacy Girls as the Andrew Sisters topped off the breakfast with a musical salute to the community's heroes.

The transcripts of the oral interviews of these veterans can be read and heard via the Niles Public Library  website. 

Additional details and photographs as ably provided by reporter Igor Studenkov can be viewed at
http://niles.chicagotribune.com/2014/11/10/niles-public-library-honors-local-veterans/ .

Annual Veterans Day Display at the Niles Public Library

This year’s Veterans Day Exhibit includes uniforms recreated to match the uniforms of the World War II Veterans Bette Horstman, a Physical -Therapist and 1st Lieutenant in the Army Medical Corps in Saipan and Harold Horstman, an Army Staff Sergeant in Europe with the  103rd AAA AW Battalion, Battery C. The Horstmans are the latest interviewees for the Veterans History Project at the Niles Public Library.

 The library again acknowledges the informed generosity of Niles resident Chris Reuscher who has shared the uniforms and accurate insignia from his extensive collection, detailed at http://www.usww2uniforms.com/index.html. Chris also provided the informative captions.

In addition this year's exhibit includes two models in the foreground, a U.S. Corsair and a German Messerschmitt Bf 109, both expertly built by Bill Griggs and kindly loaned for

 exhibition by Greg Bosak of Chicagoland Toys and Hobbies, 6078 Northwest Highway, Chicago, 773-775-4848.