Mayor Jim Dodge is scheduled to read the names of veterans newly engraved on Orland Park’s Veterans Memorial during the village’s annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave.
The new names span service from 1941 to 2022. They include Joseph J. McCarthy, a Marine Corps veteran who served from 1942 to 1945 and whom the village lists as a Medal of Honor recipient.
The memorial displays the engraved names of living and deceased veterans from across the country, from all branches and all wars. New names are announced at the village’s Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies.
Dodge called recognizing veterans “one of our highest privileges as a village.”
The veterans being added are:
• Robert G. Geigner, U.S. Navy, 1941-1945
• Joseph J. McCarthy, U.S. Marine Corps, 1942-1945
• Roland R. Stemmer, U.S. Army, 1942-1946
• Stanley J. Grant, U.S. Army, 1942-1945
• Robert D. Hill, U.S. Navy, 1944-1946
• Arthur P. Bistyak, U.S. Army, 1964-1967
• Raymond M. Walsh, U.S. Army, 1965-1971
• James J. Hill, U.S. Army, 1967-1968
• Victor Perez, U.S. Air Force, 1970-1978
• David L. Eickstaedt, U.S. Army, 1971-1972
• John F. Kinsella III, Illinois Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force, 2000-2022
The program: American Legion Orland Memorial Post 111, Orland-Palos Reber-Tesmond VFW Memorial Post 2604 and Veterans Voices of Orland Park will present the colors. The Orland Park Children’s Theater will then sing the national anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Veterans Program Coordinator Dan Marsan will give a welcome. The Rev. Don Borling, pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Orland Park, will give a blessing. Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John L. Borling is the guest speaker.
Watching from home: The ceremony will stream live on the village’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/VillageofOrlandPark. A recording will be posted on the village’s social media accounts afterward.
Other ceremonies: Dodge is also scheduled to appear at these Veterans Day events, according to the village:
• 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10: High Point Elementary School, 14825 West Ave.
• 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10: Orland Junior High School, 14855 West Ave.
• 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10: Lunch with the Mayor, with state Sen. John Curran, Papa Joe’s, 14459 LaGrange Road
• 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11: Prairie School, 14200 82nd Ave.
• 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11: Kruse Elementary School, 7617 Hemlock Drive
• 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13: Ceremony and breakfast, Century Junior High School, 10801 W. 159th St.
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I, and honors everyone who has served in the military, according to the village. Ceremonies are traditionally held at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the moment the armistice took effect.
Questions about the ceremony can go to the Orland Park Veterans Advisory Board at 708-403-5000 or veterans@orlandpark.org.
