Veterans talk about the meaning of Memorial Day

With military men and women continuing to lose their lives in Iraq every week, Memorial Day seems less about looking back— and more about looking forward.

Sedgebrook community members and staff gathered in the clubhouse to honor fallen soldiers of the past and present, and to reflect on the meaning of military service in today’s political environment.

Lincolnshire Mayor Brett Bloomberg attended the event. Mayor Bloomberg, a six-year Navy veteran, currently works with the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps to prevent teen alcohol and drug abuse through leadership training.

Maj. Geraldine Peacock, who has worked as an Army nurse for 22 years, including a 14-month tour in Afghanistan, provided the keynote address. She also worked for many years as a critical care nurse at Rush University Medical Center, and more recently at John Stroger Hospital.

The meaning of Memorial Day
Peacock talked about how many people cannot comprehend what it means to serve in the military.

“The majority of Congress [members] have not served in the military,” she said. “The threats we face aren’t understood—even after 9/11.”

She said veterans in the audience should honor the troops in Iraq by sharing their own stories of military service with young people, so they can better understand their sacrifice and the real meaning of Memorial Day.“

We can start to pay that debt by not forgetting,” Peacock said. “By sharing where we came from, we can give the next generation a vision of where they should go.”

Sedgebrook veterans share thoughts
After Peacock’s address, several Sedgebrook veterans shared their own thoughts and memories.

“Remember the people who survived too,” Al Johnson said. “The vets here don’t want another medal, but maybe you could just extend your arm to them and say, ‘Thank you for serving.’”