Plainfield Schools Pay Tribute to Veterans

• Plainfield Library Is Open Veterans Day; Village, Township Closed

Trader showed students one of several Purple Hearts he received for his 30-plus years as a pararescueman jumper. Traeder served in both Vietnam and Iraq.

While Plainfield schools and the Plainfield Public Library paid tribute to veterans last week, you can commemorate the federal holiday at Romeoville's annual Veterans Day event at 10 a.m. Monday at the Edward "Doc" McCartan Veterans Memorial Garden, located at Montrose Drive and Route 53.

Local veterans groups

Some links to local veterans resources:

• Plainfield American Legion Marne Post 13
• Operation Welcome You Home (welcomes home returning vets and organizes the Plainfield Wounded Warriors 5K fundraiser)
• American Legion Post 52 (Romeoville) 
• American Legion Post 1080 (Joliet)
• VFW Cantigny Post (Joliet)
• More Will County veterans organizations

What is Veterans Day?

Veterans Day 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.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. 

Local facts about veterans, by the numbers:

• Map: Do Veterans Live in More Impoverished Parts of Town?
• Map: What Part of Town Has the Most Veterans?

Are you a veteran? Blog on Patch.