Serving Those Who Served

A new court designed to specifically serve the needs of military veterans was created Wednesday.

Marco Vizcaino served parts of two years in Iraq. A new court created in Will County can help him avoid doing up to three years in prison on a drug charge. "All the things are coming together here like a perfect storm," State's Attorney James Glasgow said as he submitted a petition to Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes to establish a specialized veterans and servicemembers court in Will County. Policandriotes approved the petition and accepted Vizcaino as its fist applicant. Vizcaino, 31, was up on a class 4 felony drug charge. He also has a case in DuPage County for the alleged "attempt to foil or defeat (a) screen test by spiking or substitution." Glasgow said he would be in touch with the DuPage County state's attorney to see if the …

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Welcome Home Set for Plainfield Army Captain

A flag line and motorcade will be formed in the parking lots of Meijer and Culver's, after which Capt. James Hart will be escorted home.

When Army Capt. James Hart comes home on leave Sunday, he'll be greeted not only by his family but by a flag line and a motorcade that will escort him to his Plainfield home. Hart served one tour in Iraq and is completing his second tour in Afghanistan, according to a media release from Operation Welcome You Home, which is organizing the event. An Oak Park native and Morton High School graduate, Hart currently lives in Plainfield with his wife Beth, son Aiden and two dogs. He enlisted in the National Guard when he was 17 and after boot camp he attended Western University, where he completed a bachelor's degree in law enforcement. In 2003, he was deployed to Iraq, where he was shot in the shoulder and received a purple heart, the media …

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Plainfield Chaplain Tapped for National Day of Prayer Event

Lt. Col. Garry Losey, who served in Iraq for a year and received a Bronze Star, will be the keynote speaker for Adventist GlenOaks Hospital.

Lt. Col. Garry Losey, a Plainfield resident, has been tapped to give the keynote address at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital's May 5 community breakfast for the 60th annual National Day of Prayer. Losey, manager of pastoral care at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, returned to the United States in October after serving for a year at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. He now serves as the family life chaplain in the Army Reserves for the 85thSupport Command in Arlington Heights. The breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Glendale Lakes Golf Club, 1550 President St., Glendale Heights. Losey is the recipient of many awards and decorations, including the prestigious Bronze Star Medal. He will speak on the 2011 National Day of Prayer's theme, “…

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Two Vets to Be Feted by Operation Welcome Home

Plainfield natives Mark Peters Jr. and Anthony Lawyer to be greeted, escorted by members of nonprofit group welcoming their return.

Two Plainfield natives currently serving in the military will be welcomed home in style thanks to Operation Welcome You Home Illinois. Marine Corps Sgt. Mark A. Peters Jr. will be greeted by a group of volunteers at 3 p.m. Dec. 18 at the parking lot of Best Buy on U.S. 30 in Joliet and escorted to a party being held in his honor. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Anthony Lawyer will be greeted at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 22 in the parking lot of Meijers, Route 59 and 135th Street, in Plainfield. He'll be presented with a flag line and escorted to his family home. The events are just two of five that Operation Welcome Home will be conducting between Dec. 16 and 22. The nonprofit group organizes public gatherings for returning soldiers at the request of family …

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About Town

Iraq Marine Greeted with Motorcade after Finishing Three Tours of Duty

Brandon Meyers enlisted right after high school; now he plans to go to school to study automotive technology.

Plainfield Central High School honor student Brandon Meyers served three tours in Iraq over the past four years.  And when the U.S. Marine corporal came home for good on Sunday afternoon, he received a hero's welcome home. Flag-flying fire engines, motorcycles and family cars congregated for a motorcade to celebrate Meyers' safe return.  "This is unbelievable," Brandon's grandfather George Ketchmark told the crowd packing the Wal-Mart parking lot at noon.  Then the crowd shared a moment of silence after one vet added a somber note.  "We've really taken a beating in Afghanistan this month – we lost 16 Marines in the last few weeks."  Meyers, 22, survived some of the most dangerous jobs in the military. He specialized in logistics vehicle …

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