Over the past month I kept getting reminded that veterans continue to serve others, even after they complete the commitment to this country.
For instance, there was the news story of a retired female Navy pilot who was walking her dog along the lakefront. She noticed a swimmer who appeared to be drowning. She asked another person to watch her dog and jumped in to save the man. When she got out of the water after getting the man to shore, she calmly got her dog and started walking home.
I thought back to all the veterans who have worked to make Naperville a better place to live. When I moved here in 1973, there was a Naperville Fire Department vehicle with the American Legion logo on it. That didn’t make much sense to me until I was told that the local American Legion Post 43 had raised the funds for this vehicle. At the time it was purchased, Naperville was a small rural community in the middle of farmland, staffed by part-time firefighters.
Chuck Bueche, a World War II Army Veteran, was one of the young men who helped charter the Naperville Jaycees back in the 1950s. He was known for his service, dedication and attendance at monthly meetings until his death in 2010.
Veterans continue to serve the Naperville Community as teachers, police officers, firefighters and in other public service careers. They also volunteer as members of numerous service organizations.
Just last month, dozens of veterans volunteered to spread mulch to spruce up the gardens for this year’s plantings at the Judd Kendall VFW Post 43.
In a commencement speech on June 19, 2020 at Northwestern University, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot addressed the need for everyone to be concerned about serving his or her fellow man. She said that the Coronavirus has “forced us to rethink and redefine the very notion of public service, to move it beyond its traditional realm, and expand into every role we play.”
I believe our veterans provide an example of how we can do that.
