Despite Rain, Suburbs Honor Vets For Memorial Day
(CBS) -- Is has rained on parades as people observe Memorial Day. One community cancelled their parade and another cautiously walked through theirs.
In Elmhurst, a memorial service was moved indoors, but the rain didn't stop the parade from marching through the streets.
CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reports with a patriotic spirit, many fought the rain to see the bands and color guard.
The parade in Arlington Heights was cancelled due to weather and safety concerns.
While parades honor the service men and women who died serving in all wars -- the 97th Elmhurst Parade has a special focus: it pays tribute to the sacrifices made during the Vietnam War.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of U.S. combat troops heading into Vietnam and the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon.
As a result, the parade's grand marshal, Jerry Pask, is a combat decorated flight medic who served in that war.
"Unfortunately, some of them I tried saving when I was over there… it is a little bit emotional," Pask said. "Over there, you controlled your emotions and then today it's like a mixture of both."
During the memorial service in Elmhurst, the names of all of the vets who passed away since Veterans' Day in 2014 will be read aloud.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports in Arlington Heights, a bell tolled once for each of its 58 residents killed in service since the Civil War, including the most recent: James Grey Stack.
Stack was a 28-year-old Marine corporal, killed in Afghanistan in 2010.
He was given a heroes funeral almost five years ago and his family is still grateful today.
"James made me proud and I believe he accomplished his objective, to serve in the Marine Corps with honor and distinction," Robert Stack said.
Heavy rain forced cancellation of the local parade, moving the remembrance indoors.
"We had signs made up, 'Thank You Veterans, 2,000 of them, that we were going to put along the entire parade route," said Greg Padovani of the Veterans Memorial Committee.
But hundreds still turned up to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"While their loss was deeply mourned, in the words of General George S. Patton, 'We should rather thank God that such men lived,'" said Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky took part, as did Sen. Mark Kirk, a former naval reserve officer, praising the town for not forgetting.
"When you wear the uniform, to see a town turn out like this, it makes you all the more proud of the country and the service that you do," Kirk said.