Former Gov. Pat Quinn never served in the military, but he still has a keen perspective on what Memorial Day means.
Quinn was lieutenant governor of Illinois from 2003-2009 and governor from 2009-2015. In that time, he said he attended more than 300 funerals or services for military men and women from Illinois who died serving the United States.
Sometimes, he said, he would attend two in a day.
The 41st Illinois governor was the guest speaker Monday at the Blue Island Memorial Day program at Memorial Park. More than 100 people attended as he spoke about the meaning of Memorial Day.
Quinn, 76, said when he was in office, he thought it was important for someone from the state to be at the funerals.
“Those were very, very sad days,” Quinn told the crowd. “There were no words in the English language or the Spanish language or any language to relieve the pain of a mom or a dad who lost their son or daughter in serving our country in a faraway place.”
Former Lansing resident and Thornton Township Board member Tom Shepherd, who helped bring Quinn to Blue Island for the speech, said he admired that the former governor was able to try to comfort so many families.
“I respected him to begin with,” Shepherd said. “But I really respected him during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars when he was a governor. He went to services all around the state.”
Shepherd remembers the Pullman area losing Sgt. Albert Ware, who died by an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan in 2009.
Quinn attended Ware’s service and called him “an all-American hero.”
Shepherd was impressed Quinn took the time to come to the service.
On Monday, Quinn echoed some of the thoughts of Blue Island American Legion Post 50 Cmdr. Joe Serbantez, who said Memorial Day was about more than cookouts and mattress sales.
“Yes, we have ballgames and we have picnics and all kinds of celebrations and that’s good,” Quinn said. “We were given a gift by God to be here in the United States as citizens in 2025. That’s all important.
“But we cannot forget the significance of today, which is to honor all of those who came and served our country. We cannot forget them.”
He said it’s not just Memorial Day in which they should be remembered.
“As far as I’m concerned, every day should be Memorial Day,” Quinn said, “We should remember the sacrifices of those who answered the call to duty, went into the face of danger and served our democracy.”
He said this area is full of history and patriotism with people willing to serve.
“When you think about it, we’re here in Illinois, Blue Island, Illinois, and we’re the land of Lincoln,” Quinn said. “Abraham Lincoln had talked about service at Gettysburg in 1863. That’s why we’re gathered here today.
“We want to honor those who understood the importance of protecting democracy.”
The program featured prayers and remembrances from post chaplain Ken Young, “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” sung by Christine Rodriguez, a sounding of taps by Jerry Dagenais and the placement of wreaths by members of the Latin American Advisory Council.
Former Blue Island residents Bob and Judy Kissel, who now live in Palos Heights, make attending the Blue Island ceremony a tradition.
Judy, 84, brought a rose to a monument at Memorial Park in honor of her grandfather, Chester Kaufman, who served in World War II.
“We grew up in Blue Island and used to swim in the pool over there (on the Memorial Park property) and my husband played Pony League here,” she said. “We like coming back.”
Judy was escorted to the monument by Quinn.
“It was special to have him here,” she said. “He had a very good message.”
Orland Park
In Orland Park, the names of the five veterans who were recently added to the village’s granite wall memorial, Ara Pacé, which means Place of Peace, were read aloud during a ceremony.
They are David A Trechel, who served in the Marines from 1969-1970; Thomas T Georgas, in the Army from 1966-1967; Roberto Bargas, in the Army from 1944-1946; Kenneth R Kovac, in the Army 1988-1992; and Gam Mon Yee, in the Army 1957-1959.
“Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the courage and selflessness of the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country,” said Mayor James Dodge.
The ceremony included representatives of the Orland Park Veterans Commission, the American Legion Orland Memorial Post 111, Veterans Voices Military Group, VFW Reber-Tesmond Post 2604 and the Orland Park Children’s Choir.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
