Arlington Heights Memorial Day Highlights: Fallen Heroes, Injured Veterans Honored

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The 97th Annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony in Arlington Heights was led by Grand Marshal Rear Admiral Stephen C. Evans, Commander Naval Service Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois.

In the parade, US Army Sgt. Jason Smith was accompanied by high school students who helped build upgrade his home by raising money and helping with construction. U.S. Army Sgt. Jason Smith, 30, who lost both of his legs while serving in Afghanistan, was awarded a $23,000 check last year at John Hersey High School to help make his Tennessee home handicapped accessible.

WWII veteran Irving Abramson, of Skokie, was also honored in the Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade.

During the Battle of the Bulge, Abramson was injured by a blast from a German artillery shell.

“The shell broke both bones in my lower leg broke my knee broke three ribs punctured my lung and I had burns up and down one side of my body from hot shrapnel,” Abramson said. “How I ever survived, I don’t know.”

Abramson was honored by U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Illinois, with the Bronze Medal, the Purple Heart, and six other medals and awards he earned during his service. Abramson served in the 100th Infantry Division in the European Theatre of Operations during World War II and was stationed in both France and Germany.

About 3,000 people marched in this year’s Memorial Day Parade. The parade was followed by a Memorial Day Ceremony at Memorial Park.

Memorial Day Ceremony 2016 Memorial Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois

OPENING: Greg Padovani, Chairman, Veterans Memorial Committee

INVOCATION: Father Matt Foley, St. James Catholic Church

STAR SPANGLED BANNER & MILITARY SONGS: Temporal Brass Band

WELCOME TO GOLD STAR FAMILIES

THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED

MEMORIAL DAY WELCOME: Michael McInerney, Commander, VFW Post 981

VILLAGE OF ARLINGTON HEIGHTS GREETING: Tom Hayes, Mayor

PRESENTATION OF MEDALS: US Senator Mark Kirk presenting medals to US Army WWII Veteran Irving M Abramson

MEMORIAL DAY COMMENTS: BG Frederick Maiocco, Jr., 85th Support Command

MEMORIAL DAY COMMENTS: Rear Admiral Stephen Evans, Commander, Naval
Services Training Command

HONORED VETERANS READING: Don Horn, Commander, American Legion Post 208

ARLINGTON’S FALLEN HEROES: Greg Padovani, Veterans Memorial Committee

PLACING OF WREATHS TO HONOR OUR FALLEN HEROES

21 GUN SALUTE & TAPS: American Legion Post 208 Honor Guard

CLOSING PRAYER: Father Matt Foley, St. James Catholic Church

REMEMBERING OUR VETERANS PHOTO: All active duty & reserve military personnel as well as all veterans are invited to gather around the Eternal Flame.

Arlingtoncardinal.com/MemorialDay




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