Most certainly November is known for Thanksgiving. However let’s not forget another national holiday, Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day. November 11 is when we honor our veterans from all wars for their service to our country.
Through 25 years of creating public art in Naperville, Century Walk has tried to do their best in keeping the awareness of what sacrifices have been made by so many. At Burlington Square Park you will find two World War I monuments: the “Spirit of the American Doughboy” and the “Spirit of the American Navy” both created by the same artist, E.M. Viquesney, apparently waving across the park at each other. Century Walk believes this to be the only location in the country where these two sculptures are at the same location.
Similarly, they have created a monument to five local Naperville men who all served and distinguished themselves earning numerous medals in the Second World War and came home successfully at its conclusion. The “Veterans Valor” sculpture is situated on Washington Street at the east entrance to Central Park.
Completing what some people might call a “trifecta,” the Naperville Gold Star Families Memorial Monument will be dedicated next spring at Veterans Park. This is a tribute to those military and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice. In partnership with the Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, this monument will be the first in Illinois.
So sometime around the big holiday, maybe you could visit one of our memorials and be thankful for what they represent. Without their service, there might not be another holiday in November.
About Century Walk
The Century Walk Corporation, founded in 1996, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing public art to Naperville, to add beauty to the town, build community and bridge generations by paying tribute to over 200 years of Naperville history through a diverse collection of murals, mosaics, sculptures and more.
Learn more about 50-plus pieces of Naperville public art at www.centurywalk.org.
