Above / Join the Naperville Marines and special guests during the annual U.S. Marines Flag Raising at the Municipal Center, 10AM Fri., Nov. 10, 2017. (PN File Photo)
UPDATE, Nov. 10, 2017 / Naperville Marines hosted its annual flag raising at the Naperville Municipal Center.
An acapella group from Naperville North High School provided a rousing rendition of all the verses of the Marines Hymn for an audience of public officials, Veterans, Marine recruits and residents. The students also sang National Anthem.
During very brief remarks, special guest Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (USMC Ret.) included a description of the official emblem and insignia of the U.S. Marines Corps, a globe and an anchor topped by an Eagle.
Col. Harvey also thanked Mayor Steve Chirico and the City of Naperville for hosting the ceremony.
With snow spitting and the temperature hovering around 25 degrees, this year’s commemoration of the Marines’ 242nd birthday seemed like the chilliest in more than a decade. Thanks to all who serve our country. God bless America and our precious freedoms. Peace.
Remember! A very touching Veterans Day observance at 11AM Sat., Nov., 11, also will feature Col. Barnum as guest speaker at Veterans Park, 303 E. Gardner Road. Arrive about 10:45AM for upbeat patriotic music and marches performed by the Naperville Municipal Band. Plenty of parking is available across the street at Grace United Methodist Church.
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Original Post, Nov. 7, 2017 / Col. Harvey C. ( Barney) Barnum Jr. USMC Ret. will join the Naperville Marines on 10 November 2017 to commemorate the 242nd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.
Col. Barnum was the fourth Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam and one of only 13 living Marines that has received the medal. He also will participate in Veteran Days events here in Naperville.
The first activity will be a breakfast held at School District 203 headquarters with other Veterans prior to their visiting schools within the district. The Colonel will then travel to Naperville North High School to speak at a full school assembly.
Flag Raising / 10AM Nov. 10
At 10AM a Marine Corps Flag raising will take place at Naperville City Hall.
Lew Breese notes the flag raising is an hour later than usual due to other tributes and programs that morning to observe Veterans Day in the schools on a Friday.
Joining the program will be a Corral Group from NNHS preforming the National Anthem and the Marine Corps Hymn. Marine recruiters from the Naperville recruiting station will post the colors. Col.Dan Brush USMC Ret.OIC Naperville Marines, Wayne Fischer a former Marine Corps Captain, XO Naperville Marines will also address the gathering with Col. Barnum making additional comments.
Naperville Marines Birthday Ball / Nov. 10
Later that evening the Naperville Marriott will be the host hotel for the annual Birthday Ball where Col. Barnum and his wife will be the honored guests. This year Echo Co. 4th Recon Battalion, the Marine reserve unit based in Joliet, will be joining in on the festivities .
They also will be collecting brand new unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps Reserve’s “Toys for Tots ” program. Tickets for the Ball have been sold out for weeks prior to the event.
UPDATE, Nov. 11, 2017 / Click here for photos of the 2017 Naperville Marines Birthday Ball by photographer James Hoch, complete with all the traditions.
Veterans Day / 11-11-11
The next day, Sat., Nov. 11, 2017, Veterans Day, Col. Barnum will be the guest speaker at Naperville’s annual observance of the holiday at Veterans Park, 303 E. Gardner Road.
Barnum, 76, was one of only two recipients of the Medal of Honor — the highest award for combat valor — to be denied a ceremony at the White House amid widespread public disapproval of the Vietnam War.
He received the Medal of Honor for heroism while on temporary assignment as a first lieutenant in Vietnam in 1965, an artillery forward observer with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. Trapped by an onslaught of accurate enemy fire on an isolated hill, Barnum was forced to take the lead after his company commander was grievously wounded and his radio operator was killed.
Barnum continued to serve following his military career, as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs, as principal director for Drug Enforcement Policy at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as president of the Congressional Medal of Honor society, among other posts.
Last year the Navy Department named a new Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer DDG 114 in Col. Burnams Honor.
Col. Barnum’s citation for the Medal of Honor can be viewed at:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik
Story submitted by Lew Breese for the Naperville Marines.
