Expressing ‘Everlasting Gratitude’

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Presenting the colors, the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad marches before the approximately 1,200 spectators gathered Wednesday for the first Veterans Day ceremony in the 10-year history of the cemetery. (Herald Photo by Jo Ann Hustis)

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ELWOOD — Many millions of veterans have held the nation’s democracy in their arms, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn noted Wednesday at Abraham Lincoln Nation-al Military Cemetery.

“To have a government of the people, there have to be people among us - angels among us - who go forward and protect everything we believe in,” Quinn told a crowd of about 1,200 at the Veterans Day event at the nation’s second largest military cemetery in acres.

“Our right to speak, our right to assemble, our right to petition, our right to have a free press and freedom of religion; these fundamental freedoms we should not take for granted on Veterans Day or any day.”

He spoke of the thousands of graves at the cemetery of the military who died in Afghanistan and Iraq for the cause of freedom, and cautioned the public to never forget these heroes.

There are 1.2 million veterans living in Illinois today, almost 10 percent of the state’s population, Quinn said in calling attention to the importance of Veterans Day. This is the day the nation thanks the veterans and expresses its everlasting gratitude to those who volunteered to go forward in the face of danger, he said.

The governor reminded the nation that its military today is an all-volunteer military, and spoke of his trip last summer to Afghanistan and Iraq as commander-in-chief of the Illinois National Guard.

Quinn noted 3,200 Guardsmen from Illinois were deployed to the two countries last year – the largest deployment from Illinois since World War II – and spoke of the ING’s losses – 18 Illinois Guardsmen killed and 39 others critically wounded, some still hospitalized.

“While we have lost them in life, we will never forget their sacrifice,” he said of the dead. “Always remember the sacrifice of all the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States of America.”

The worse thing for the American soldier who volunteers to defend their country is that the nation would break faith with them, Quinn reminded.

“Our faith teaches us we will see our veterans, our service members, again,” he said. “We, the living, must make sure that no one – no one – has ever died in vain protecting our democracy. God bless the immortal souls of all the veterans who have gone before us.”

Among the others who spoke was 11th District Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete. She reminded the audience of the sacrifices made by the nation’s veterans in the cause of freedom.

“It is as Pat Quinn has said, ‘It’s the rent we pay for the lives we have been given,’” she added of the military’s service to others.

Military veteran Tony Cutrano of Palos Hills, who organized and sponsored the Veterans Day program at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery, and is co-founder with Jerry Kuczera of the Freedom Wall at Marseilles, commented prior to the ceremony on serving others.

“Once you sign that (enlistment) paper to our government, it’s not for a four-year term, or a six-year term, it’s a life term as a volunteer,” he said of his efforts to honor and remember veterans and their families.

Cutrano said the event was the first time in its 10-year history for the cemetery to have a Veterans Day ceremony.

“I decided to get the community involved – to bring the community together and pay our respects,” he said.

Cutrano expected a turnout of 200 to 300 people, although he had arranged seating for 500. He was astounded at the response and the community’s dedication in placing a flower on each of the about 17,000 graves in the cemetery.

He said he is uncertain at this time whether to expand the Veterans Day ceremony into an annual event.

“My goal is to build a visitors center at the Freedom Wall at Marseilles, and we have to expand the memorial,” he said.

“We just had a big casualty at Fort Hood. October was the worst month in Afghanistan and Iraq, casualty-wise. I’d like to do something in the Civil War Cemetery in Danville if I do something again. The cemetery folks asked me to, and we’ll see.”

Lincoln Cemetery Director Roseann Santore welcomed Gov. Quinn and the public.

“Today we honor those men and women who served America in uniform at home and abroad, at war and in peace,” she said. “They set the standards of courage and idealism for the entire world.”

Navy Chaplain 1st Lt. Vincent Lambert offered praise and thanksgiving for the military who gave of their time and even their lives for the sake of freedom.

ING Col. Anthony Libri, master of ceremonies, said the thought was not only of the veterans interred in the cemetery and those in attendance, but also of the veterans to come.

“We’re all one big family,” the colonel said.
 

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