As Veterans Day approaches, let us come together to recognize and honor the bravery of those who have served, ensuring their contributions are celebrated for generations to come.
In this spirit of remembrance, the City of West Chicago proudly reaffirms its commitment to honoring its local veterans through the annual Veterans Day Display Program, recently installed downtown. This heartfelt initiative showcases the bravery and service of West Chicago residents while highlighting the City’s dedication to recognizing and celebrating all local veterans.
This year, the City is honored to add the following distinguished individuals to the program:
- Erik Nelson (2009–2015, U.S. Army)
- Harry Hummel (1943–1946, U.S. Army)
- William Birch (1973–1977, U.S. Air Force)
- Richard Howard (1949–1953, U.S. Army)
- Vincente Alvarez (2018–2022, U.S. Marine Corps)
- Lawerence “Lorny” Urban (1942–1946, U.S. Army)
- Frank Dorner (1968–1971, U.S. Army)
- LeClaire Carey (1968–1971, U.S. Army)
- Donald Nellis (1945–1949, U.S. Army; 1949–1953, U.S. Air Force Reserves)
While we celebrate these new entries into the program, the City invites everyone to honor all our local veterans by visiting downtown to view the 62 individuals on display. Each banner represents a local hero who has called West Chicago home, and the City is proud to honor these individuals for their significant contributions to our country while representing their hometown.
To view the veterans featured in the Program, please visit the City’s website at westchicago.org/veteransdaydisplay.
The Veterans Day Display Program: Continuing a Tribute to Local Heroes
Launched in 2021, the Veterans Day Display Program was created to pay tribute to local veterans. After reaching maximum capacity for participants in 2023, the City recognized the need for reorganization of the Program in response to overwhelming interest in the banner display. The City actively utilized initial feedback while also engaging in discussions with community members to gather suggestions for improving the program, including increasing the number of participants and the veterans honored each year.
This collaborative effort resulted in significant enhancements, such as more legible banner designs and better placement within the downtown area to ensure greater accessibility for pedestrians. By featuring a different individual on each side of the banner, allocating appropriate funds annually, and implementing a rotation for future installations, the City addressed capacity limitations while maximizing the number of veterans honored each year.
As part of the revamped program, the City will allocate annual funds to allow for the addition of up to 14 new veterans, ensuring that all who have served from West Chicago are recognized at no cost to themselves or their nominators. Additionally, nominations are now accepted year-round at westchicago.org/veteransdaydisplay, rather than just during the month leading up to the program, allowing residents to enter at any time. Entries will be added to a running list on a first-come, first-served basis. Once nominations reach capacity for the year, any remaining submissions will automatically roll over into the following year’s group of inductees.
The City extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the residents who contributed to revamping this vital initiative, which serves as a testament to our community's commitment to honoring its heroes. Your dedication will ensure that every local veteran is celebrated each year, allowing West Chicago to uphold the legacy of those who have served while reinforcing our unwavering support for all members of the armed services.