• Last Update: Nov. 9, 2017
  

Veterans Day has special meaning this year and a special opportunity for participation, as the event takes place on a Saturday.

Originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans — living or dead — but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

For Kane County government offices, the holiday is observed on Friday, Nov. 10.

Communities throughout Kane County celebrate with a variety of events and ceremonies. Below is a list of several of the most popular events, but we hope to list as many as we can and update this post frequently. If you know of a Veterans Day event or ceremony in Kane County that’s not listed here, please email a link, photo and additional information to Rick Nagel at kanecountyconnects@gmail.com.

Veterans Resources

• Click here for a free Veterans Resources Guide from GovLoop.
• Click here to visit the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission website.

Veterans Discounts Galore

A lot of veterans might not realize they are eligible for discounts at small businesses and major franchises, from cash bonuses and rebates for auto purchases

to oil changes, car rental, clothing stores, entertainment, shipping, child care.

Here are a few resources and links:

• Military Benefits Info page
• The American Legion discounts page (2016)
• Military.com: Veterans Day Deals, Discounts And Freebies
• State of Illinois: Veterans and Active Military Discounts

What’s Closed, What’s Open

What’s Closed, What’s Open For (Friday) Veterans Day Observed

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Program — Serving Those Who Served

2nd year for programs assisting Veterans in Illinois

Volunteers across Illinois are gearing up to participate in the Serving Those Who Served Program), with a week’s worth of events from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11. Their goal is to make an impact in the lives of veterans and show gratitude for their service to this country.

“We want our Illinois heroes to know that their service means more to us than a one-day program or parade,” said IDVA Director Erica Jeffries. “We are counting on our fellow Illinoisans to come out, volunteer, and give back to those who have protected our freedoms here at home.”

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs spearheads the STWS program. The department is partnering with seven other organizations to help increase the success of the program — Chicago Cares, The Mission Continues, Serve Illinois, Corporation for National & Community Service, Illinois Joining Forces, Student Veterans of America and the city of Chicago.

Each of these partners assisted with recruiting volunteers, funding, or hosting community service projects. The website, http://bit.ly/2ilAVyK, which was created through Chicago Cares, allows Illinoisans to look for a project in their area and sign up to volunteer.

This is the second year for this STWS program. About 570 volunteers came out to support the program last year, providing approximately 2,280 hours of much needed and welcomed community service for Illinois Heroes. According to the Points of Light, the total number of volunteer hours had an economic impact of $53,716.80 in 2016.

Traditionally, volunteer time has been estimated using a single dollar value for all types of volunteering. The Value of Volunteer Time, which is updated annually, is made available by Independent Sector. The current Independent Sector rate is $24.14 per hour (2016).

Aurora

Aurora Will Honor Those Who Serve at Veterans Day Parade

The parade steps off at the corner of Benton and Broadway at 10:15 a.m. ending at the GAR Memorial Hall, where the “Honoring All Who Served” ceremony takes place. The ceremony includes a military rifle salute by veteran organizations at 11 a.m., the exact time the armistice was signed that ended WWI.

Location: 5 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL60507

The 2017 Keynote Speaker is Lt. Lauren Carthan, Senior Naval Science Instructor of the East Aurora Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

The parade line-up includes active and retired military personnel, local and regional veterans’ organizations, public safety personnel, a community chorus, marching bands, ROTC units and many special guests.

Immediately following the parade and ceremony, the award-winning historic G.A.R. Memorial Hall will be open for tours.

Read More:

Naval Science Instructor Will Keynote Aurora Veterans Day Parade Ceremony

Chicago

Special Ceremony at Soldier Field

No, it’s not exclusively in Kane County, but Kane County veterans and families might be interested in the Veterans Day ceremony at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Here’s the flyer, courtesy of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Elgin

Elgin Hosts Veterans Day Ceremony

The ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. on Veterans Day (Saturday, Nov. 11) at Memorial Park, 274 N. Grove St., Elgin.

Fox Valley Park District

Veterans Luncheon on Nov. 3

In honor of all community members who have served in the Armed Forces, the Fox Valley Park District is hosting a Veterans Day Luncheon from noon to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora.

Read More:

Fox Valley Park District Hosts Free Veterans Day Luncheon Nov. 3

Huntley

Join us in honoring our veterans on Veteran’s Day by helping to stock the shelves at New Horizons (a transitional living program for homeless veterans)

Volunteers will be at the Huntley Veterans Memorial from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and hope you’ll stop by and drop off any of the following much needed items: Canned Goods / Rice / Pastas / Pasta Sauce / Paper Towels / Toilet Paper / Napkins / Paper Plates / Copier Paper / Deodorant (for men & women) / Razors (for men & women) / Bath Soap / Body Soap.

Kids: Make and drop off a Thank You card for a Veteran.

New Horizons is owned and operated by TLS Veterans (legally known as Transitional Living Services and is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.

North Aurora

Annual Ceremony Complemented By Military Re-enactment

The village of North Aurora Annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. The ceremony will be held at the North Aurora Veteran’s Memorial located at the intersection of Farview Drive and Willow Way, in North Aurora. The North Aurora Honor Guard, the Fox Valley Marines, and Marmion Military Academy will participate in the Ceremony.

Also participating this year will be military re-enactors with a time-line display of artifacts equipment, uniforms and personal items from the Revolutionary, Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War. These items will be on display from noon to 3 p.m.

St. Charles

Veterans Day Ceremony at Fire Station No. 1

The city of St. Charles annual Veterans Day Ceremony is Nov. 11, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., at the Freedom Shrine, behind the St. Charles Police Station, 211 N. Riverside Ave. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved inside St. Charles Fire Station 1, at 112 N. Riverside Ave.

“Please join us to show your appreciation to our country’s vets,” the city said.

NOV. 6 UPDATE:

The City of St. Charles Annual Veterans Day Ceremony is Nov. 11, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. The event will be moved inside Fire Station 1, 112 N. Riverside Ave., due to cold weather in the forecast. Please join us to show your appreciation for our country’s veterans.

The ceremony will begin with a reading of the official Veterans Day Proclamation, followed by an invocation, salute to the flag, gun salute and Taps performance.

U-46 Schools

Schools partner with Gail Borden Library for living history lessons with local veterans

Students and staff in School District U-46 will support and honor our local veterans and troops with special ceremonies, concerts, breakfasts and assemblies the week of Nov. 6. In addition, more than a dozen local veterans are visiting 80-plus classrooms in 16 schools across the district next week to talk to students about their service and their lives. The district is providing this opportunity for living history lessons in partnership with the Gail Borden Public Library.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to learn through stories told directly by the men and women who have served our country,” said Chief Executive Officer Tony Sanders. “We’re grateful for another great partnership with Gail Borden Library to provide a memorable learning experience.”

Veterans in this special program, called Veterans Voices, are scheduled to visit Clinton, Fox Meadow, Garfield, Hanover Countryside, Laurel Hill, Liberty, Lords Park, Nature Ridge, Oakhill, Ronald D.O’Neal, Parkwood, Ridge Circle, Spring Trail, Timber Trails, and Washington elementary schools and South Elgin High School between Nov. 6 and 10th. Veterans who may want to participate in future Veterans Voices events are encouraged to visit www.gailborden.info/veterans to learn more and submit a volunteer application.”

 

Additional Veterans Day events are as follows:

 

School	Address	Date	Time	Description
Abbott Middle School	949 Van St., Elgin	Monday, Nov. 6 to Thursday, Nov. 9 _________ Friday, Nov. 10	During social studies and history classes   ___________ 3 p.m.	Students will write letters/thank you cards to active service members _______________ Students will participate in virtual assembly honoring Illinois veterans and active military service members
Bartlett High School	701 W. Schick Road, Bartlett	Friday, Nov. 10	9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m.	Assembly
Canton Middle School	1100 Sunset Circle, Streamwood	Friday, Nov. 10	Assembly 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. followed by veterans in classrooms	CMS partners with Salute, INC to fundraise, host and salute veterans. Fundraiser involves principal, vice principal and dean taking a pie to the face.
Century Oaks Elementary	1235 Braeburn Drive, Elgin	Monday, Nov. 6 to Friday, Nov. 10	During school	Various classroom events, including writing letters to our veterans thanking them for their service.
Hawk Hollow Elementary	235 Jacaranda Drive, Bartlett	Monday, Nov. 6	8:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.	Students will give presentations for the veterans and veterans will go into classrooms to share their experiences in the armed forces.
Heritage Elementary	507 Arnold Ave., Streamwood	Friday, Nov. 10	8 a.m. to 9 a.m.	Flagpole ceremony at Heritage Elementary. Students will honor veterans during the ceremony.
Hillcrest Elementary	80 N. Airlite St., Elgin	Friday, Nov. 10	9:30 a.m. to 10:25 a.m.	Mr. Jerry Paulsen, Veteran and Founder of Operation Horses & Heroes will present to 4th-6th graders.
Horizon Elementary	1701 Greenbrook Blvd., Hanover Park	Thursday, Nov. 9	8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.	Day of Honor breakfast and school-wide assembly. Band, orchestra and chorus will perform a musical tribute to our Armed Forces.  Veterans welcome. Visits to classrooms by veterans as well.
Huff Elementary	801 Hastings St, Elgin	Friday, Nov. 10	6:00-7:00 p.m.	Short musical presentation by 5th and 6th graders, followed by interactive breakout sessions where students and veterans can interact while enjoying a small reception.
Kenyon Woods Middle School	1515 Raymond St., South Elgin	Friday, Nov. 10	2:30 p.m.	Musical tribute to veterans
Kimball Middle School	451 N. McLean Blvd., Elgin	Friday, Nov. 10	2:25 p.m. to 3:25 p.m.	Assembly featuring Elgin AMVets Post members and Mr. Jerry Turnquist, Elgin Historian, presenting the colors, discussing the history of our country’s flag and the importance that is has played for our veterans and current service members. They will also share the procedures for retiring a tattered flag. Kimball students and staff will also pay tribute to family members who are veterans or are currently in one of the service branches.
Liberty Elementary	1375 W. Bartlett Road, Bartlett	Friday Nov. 10	8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.	Breakfast for family veterans and program
Lincoln Elementary	1650 Maureen Drive, Hoffman Estates	Nov. 6 to Nov. 10		Veterans Day celebration
Parkwood Elementary	2150 Laurel Ave., Hanover Park	Wednesday, Nov. 8   __________   Thursday, Nov. 9 __________   Friday, Nov. 10	11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 8 __________   10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Nov. 9 __________ 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Nov. 10	Guest veterans will present an overview of the branches of the military service to Parkwood students. Veterans will also highlight their personal military experiences.
Prairieview Elementary	285 Mayflower Lane, Bartlett	Friday, Nov. 10	1:15 p.m.	Assembly featuring School Boy and Girl Scouts Color guard, presentation, all school Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem, Veterans Day poems, and a talk from a member of the military services.
Ronald D. O’Neal Elementary	510 Franklin Blvd., Elgin	Friday, Nov. 10	12 p.m. to 2 p.m.	Assembly to be held at the Gail Borden Public Library.
Spring Trail Elementary School	1384 Spring Valley Drive, Carol Stream	Friday, Nov. 10	1:30 to 2:30 p.m.	Veterans Day Assembly
South Elgin High School	760 E. Main St., South Elgin	Friday, Nov. 10	7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.	Assembly held outside by flagpole
Sycamore Trails Elementary School	1025 Sycamore Lane, Bartlett	Friday, Nov. 3	8:30 a.m.	Assembly
Ontarioville	2100 Elm St., Hanover Park	Thursday, Nov. 9	9:30 a.m.	Assembly
Ronald D. O’Neal	510 Franklin Blvd Elgin	Friday, Nov. 10	1:15 p.m.	Assembly at Gail Borden Library – Veterans Memorial Park

Waubonsee Community College

• Veterans Day Ceremony: 11:15 a.m. in STC Cafe: Honor our military veterans with a short ceremony featuring music and remarks.

About the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission

The Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission exists to help veterans access the benefits they earned for serving our great nation. Whether you are looking to apply for health care, dental insurance, disability compensation, home loan, GI Bill, or state benefits — the KCVAC office can help! Don’t try to navigate the benefits bureaucracy alone: Veterans Assistance Commission help is free! For more information, visit the Veterans Assistance Commission web page, “Like” the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission Facebook page and sign up for the Veterans Assistance Commission newsletter.