Vets, residents and elected officials celebrate Veterans Day at Soldier Field
Gil Rivera is a Vietnam War veteran. The Skokie resident served for two years until 1967 when he was medically discharged after he was injured by an explosion in an ambush.But for Rivera — despite his service and the injuries he suffered for the country — Veterans Day is about remembering his friends who didn’t get to come home. That’s why it was important for him to remember with other fellow veterans Monday.“I lost a lot of friends,” he said, choking up. “Coming down here and being among all the veterans would be the right thing to do. It’s a way to remember those that we lost.”Veterans, active-duty military members and elected officials gathered Monday on Veterans Day inside Soldier Field to honor those who served and mourn those who lost their lives defending America. About 65,000 veterans live in the city of Chicago.“While this nation is not perfect, the things we hold dear are always worth defending,” Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle told the crowd. “We’re immensely grateful for your service, and we pledge to always remember your sacrifice, patriotism and loyalty to your country.” Related Pullman school honors veterans — ‘We owe you a debt of gratitude that we could never repay’ Elementary school students honor alum killed in Vietnam War with flag ceremony Chicago was officially recognized as a Purple Heart City at the ceremony, a title that the city said reinforces its commitment to the veterans who live in Chicago.Mayor Brandon Johnson said it is important to honor veterans’ time in the armed forces but also to support and protect them after their years of service. He pointed to his priorities on mental health and affordable housing as examples of that commitment.“My administration will remain committed to building a thriving city where all people, especially our veterans, can thrive,” he said. A veteran cheers during the roll call of Armed Forces branches Monday during a Veterans Day ceremony at Soldier Field.Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times Gov. JB Pritzker pointed to initiatives he has worked on to show the state’s interest in supporting veterans such as opening the Chicago Veterans Home and making tuition for state public colleges and universities free for veterans.However, Pritzker focused on the values and ideals that veterans protected through their service.“Our veterans … have embodied so many of the values and principles that they were sent to defend,” he said. “We must exhibit the values and strive for the ideals that our veterans have stood for. As you all did, we must keep the promise of America.” Air Force veteran Andrea McClamAnthony Vazquez/Sun-Times Andrea McClam served in the Air Force for nearly 27 years. Many of those were spent at the O’Hare Air Reserve Station, but she was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003.For her, Veterans Day is about celebrating the men and women — especially the women, who she said are still overlooked despite their service — who risked their lives for the country. It’s also a moment for her to meet others within the community who decided to make the same sacrifice she did.“You meet other veterans, from other branches of the service,” she said. “You talk about your stories, places that you visited throughout your career, and it's just a great camaraderie and I love that.”
Gil Rivera is a Vietnam War veteran. The Skokie resident served for two years until 1967 when he was medically discharged after he was injured by an explosion in an ambush.
But for Rivera — despite his service and the injuries he suffered for the country — Veterans Day is about remembering his friends who didn’t get to come home. That’s why it was important for him to remember with other fellow veterans Monday.
“I lost a lot of friends,” he said, choking up. “Coming down here and being among all the veterans would be the right thing to do. It’s a way to remember those that we lost.”
Veterans, active-duty military members and elected officials gathered Monday on Veterans Day inside Soldier Field to honor those who served and mourn those who lost their lives defending America. About 65,000 veterans live in the city of Chicago.
“While this nation is not perfect, the things we hold dear are always worth defending,” Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle told the crowd. “We’re immensely grateful for your service, and we pledge to always remember your sacrifice, patriotism and loyalty to your country.”
Chicago was officially recognized as a Purple Heart City at the ceremony, a title that the city said reinforces its commitment to the veterans who live in Chicago.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said it is important to honor veterans’ time in the armed forces but also to support and protect them after their years of service. He pointed to his priorities on mental health and affordable housing as examples of that commitment.
“My administration will remain committed to building a thriving city where all people, especially our veterans, can thrive,” he said.
Gov. JB Pritzker pointed to initiatives he has worked on to show the state’s interest in supporting veterans such as opening the Chicago Veterans Home and making tuition for state public colleges and universities free for veterans.
However, Pritzker focused on the values and ideals that veterans protected through their service.
“Our veterans … have embodied so many of the values and principles that they were sent to defend,” he said. “We must exhibit the values and strive for the ideals that our veterans have stood for. As you all did, we must keep the promise of America.”
Andrea McClam served in the Air Force for nearly 27 years. Many of those were spent at the O’Hare Air Reserve Station, but she was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003.
For her, Veterans Day is about celebrating the men and women — especially the women, who she said are still overlooked despite their service — who risked their lives for the country. It’s also a moment for her to meet others within the community who decided to make the same sacrifice she did.
“You meet other veterans, from other branches of the service,” she said. “You talk about your stories, places that you visited throughout your career, and it's just a great camaraderie and I love that.”
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