The Naperville Gold Star Family Memorial Monument Committee is set to unveil its memorial during dedication ceremonies beginning at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 27, in Veterans Park in Naperville. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
This new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument (GSFMM) honors local families of servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the military.
“Every Gold Star Families Memorial is one of a kind, and we have put together a meaningful ceremony to unveil and dedicate our monument,” said Jennifer Slown, an honorary board member for the Gold Star Memorial Monument, Woody Williams Foundation. Slown, a Marine Corps Veteran, has been leading the initiative in Naperville with another Marine Corps Veteran, Lew Breese, for nearly four years.
“This tribute to Gold Star families and relatives who sacrificed a loved one for our freedom is a project of the Naperville Gold Star Family Memorial Committee,” added Breese. “With the guidance of Century Walk Corporation and the Woody Williams Foundation, the memorial now is ready for its dedication.”
Support for this effort has been constant and impactful from many donors, including generous grants from the Naperville Freemasons, Naperville Responds for Veterans, the American Legion Riders, City of Naperville SECA Fund; plus land and assistance received from the Naperville Park District.
Seating at the dedication will be provided for Gold Star Families, but the general public is requested to bring their own seating. The ceremony will last approximately one hour.
Veterans Park is at 301 E. Garner Road in Naperville.
To learn more about the Naperville Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, visit the Woody Williams Foundation at www.woodywilliams.org.
Gold Star Family members and relatives are those who have sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom.
The Gold Star Family Memorial was created by Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams to remember those families who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Originally, the Foundation’s goal was to establish a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Williams’ home state of West Virginia. Upon completion, a new mission was established to create monuments in as many communities as possible in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
— ELLE Services PR