Homewood and Flossmoor residents gathered on Monday, May 30, in both villages to pay respects to those who have died in the service of the nation.
The Homewood ceremony at 10:30 a.m. was conducted by the Wally Burns Chapter of the VFW, led by Commander John Beele.
Musicians with James Hart School in Homewood and Parker Junior High School in Flossmoor combined to make one band and one orchestra. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School Marching Band also performed. Veterans presented wreaths honoring those who served in specific conflicts.
The Flossmoor ceremony began at 3 p.m. and featured Kate Nelson performing taps on violin.
Photos by Andrew Burke-Stevenson/H-F Chronicle.
VIDEO
Kris Condon shows Illinois Sen. Napoleon Harris the proposal for the veterans memorial in Flossmoor. (ABS)
A Flossmoor fire truck and three firefighters stop at the Flossmoor taps ceremony to pay respects on Memorial Day. (ABS)
Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson’s daughter, Kate Nelson, performs taps on her violin in Downtown Flossmoor on Memorial Day. (ABS)
Veterans stand by wreaths honoring the wars they fought in during Memorial Day in Homewood. (ABS)
Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson, left, and Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld provide concluding remarks and thank the bands and the VFW Wally Burns post for putting together the Memorial Day ceremony in Homewood. (ABS)
James Hart orchestra director Sara White leads the James Hart orchestra in God Bless America during the Memorial Day service in Homewood. (ABS)
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts lead the service in the pledge of allegiance before the wreath-laying ceremony on Memorial Day in Homewood. (ABS)
Parker and James Hart musicians play together during the Memorial Day service in Homewood. (ABS)
Seen through a wreath, Rev. Dan Jarosewic of St. Joseph Catholic Church closes the Memorial Day ceremony in Homewood with a prayer. (ABS)
After the Memorial Day ceremony, Kris Condon shows attendees the plan for a memorial wall in Flossmoor. The project wishes to respect and pay tribute to the many Flossmoor veterans throughout the town’s history. (ABS)
James Hart band director Heather Hoefle conducts the combined Parker and James Hart band during the Memorial Day service in Homewood. This will be Hoefle’s last year as band director, as she is retiring. (ABS)
Homewood and Flossmoor police honor guard fire off shots in honor of fallen and MIA soldiers on Memorial Day in Homewood. (ABS)
Vietnam Veterans John Elashik and Donald Tollefsen lay a wreath in honor of fallen and missing in action soldiers from the Vietnam war on Memorial Day in Homewood. (ABS)
John Beele of the VFW Wally Burns post leads the wreath-laying ceremony on Memorial Day in Homewood. (ABS)
H-F and Glenwood Girl Scout Troop Leader Kelly Philbin reads a poem before explaining the troop’s “Take A Soldier” project, encouraging families to remember their loved ones who have served. (ABS)
Mayor Michelle Nelson talks with Illinois State Senator Napoleon Harris in Flossmoor on Memorial Day. (ABS)