COVID-19 survivor happy to be home after 74 days in hospital
Aurora resident Matt Thomas receives a welcome home Wednesday, July 29 after 74 days in three hospitals.
Fox Valley Veterans breakfast Club will meet Thursday, Aug. 6
“Wow, it’s been a long five months,” wrote Herschel Luckinbill, president of the Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club, based in Montgomery. “We will have our first meeting since March, at 7 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, One East Benton Street, Aurora, in the former Aurora Public Library building, lower level.” The
Surprise 96th birthday wishes for WWII veteran Alvin Skyles
World War II veteran Alvin Skyles receives 96th birthday wishes from Aurora Police, members of Montgomery Memorial Post 7452 VFW, family, and friends, Friday, July 24 at Jennings Terrace in Aurora. Skyles was drafted in the U.S. Navy two weeks before his high school graduation. He served on the USS
Laurie Emmer commander of Illinois VFW
Laurie Emmer assumed command of the Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars in June 2020. Due to the COVID-19 virus, a State Convention was not held. Emmer served honorably in the United States Army from 1983 to 2005 and retired as a Sergeant First Class Medic. She earned her eligibility to
Tanya Reyes succeeds with self-reliance throughout
By John Montesano The Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club has named Tanya Reyes our July 2020 Veteran of the Month. She was born September 16, 1971 in Aurora where she lived until she entered the U.S. Army. She was graduated from East Aurora High in 1989 and attended Waubonsee Community
Veteran Dick Miller of Aurora celebrates his 94th birthday
Veteran Dick Miller of Aurora celebrates his 94th birthday Friday, June 26, sponsored by the Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84 at One East Benton building in downtown Aurora.
Jorge Arciniega Marine: Brotherhood, commitment, hard work
By John Montesano The Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club has named Jorge Arciniega the June Veteran of the Month. He was born May 8, 1984 in East Los Angeles, Calif.. Except for living in Los Angeles for sixth and seventh grades, he lived with his sisters in Chicago and Chicago
Virtual women’s meeting Friday
Continuing her advocacy for brave women veterans who serve or previously served in our armed forces, State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, will be host to a Virtual Women’s Veteran Event at 10 a.m. Friday, June 12, through Zoom. “As a Veteran of the Marine Corp, I understand how important it
Aurora Memorial Day ceremony
In spite of an absence of the canceled Memorial Day parade in Aurora and no community involvement, Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84 representatives participate in an annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday in front of the GAR Memorial Hall and Museum, 23 E. Downer Place in downtown Aurora.
Military recollections: Ingenuity to receive a pay raise
Because it’s still close to Memorial Day, as close as I can get because I didn’t have anything in last Thursday’s edition and The Voice isn’t published Monday, I’d like to write about something military-related. The only military-related experience I have to draw on is my own two-year stretch, but
Streaming Aurora Memorial Day celebration Monday, May 25
The city government of Aurora will continue its annual Memorial Day tradition of honoring veterans who paid the ultimate price protecting the liberties of the United States of America. Due to restrictions on large gatherings, the city government of Aurora will host a virtual remembrance ceremony this year. Viewable on
Military Appreciation Month recalls sacrifice, service
By John Montesano May, marked officially as Military Appreciation Month, is a special month for both those in and out of the military. Not only do we pause on Memorial Day to remember the sacrifice and service of those who gave all, but the month holds several other military anniversaries
Veterans salute in Oswego canceled
Five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are represented in this 2017 Vietnam Moving Wall Oswego photo.
Representative Stephanie Kifowit seeks to prevent veteran suicide
In continuing her effort to prevent veteran suicide as chair of the IL House Veterans Affairs Committee, State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, who is a United States Marine Corps. veteran, has been appointed to the Illinois delegation invited to participate in the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among service members,
Oswego postpones veterans honors
Activities planned for Oswego Honors Veterans, a 10-day series of events and observances on and around Memorial Day, has been postponed until 2021 to protect our veterans, volunteers, and the public, while the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The series of events organized by the Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club and the
Veterans Assistance Commissions ready to render help
By John Montesano In light of the current COVID-19 crisis that we are all going through, I will not present a Veteran of this month. Instead, for those veterans who may need assistance, the following is for them. Veteran Assistance Commissions are county governmental agencies operated by and for veterans.
No known COVID-19 cases of veterans in Homes: Chapa LaVia
By Jerry Nowicki The number of novel COVID-19 cases confirmed in Illinois surpassed 10,000 Saturday when the State reported 1,453 new cases and 33 more deaths. The total number of casualties of the virus rose to 243, while confirmed cases grew to 10,357 and 53,581 have been tested, an increase
American Legion Post 504 in Batavia cancels its April 21 meeting due to virus
The April 21 meeting of the Batavia American Legion Post 504 has been canceled due to the COVID-19 virus situation. For more information and Legion updates, please visit the post’s website bataviapost504.org. — Batavia American Legion Post 504
Middle East Conflicts Wall: Special for Will Sutton
By John Montesano In keeping with the theme of Middle East Conflicts in which the Memorial Wall will be in Oswego, May 22-31, the Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club has named William “Will” Sutton, the March Veteran of the Month. Will Sutton, born May 24, 1989, lived in Boston, Mass.