ALNC Veterans Day Ceremony
Department of Veterans Affairs
Flowers to Tribute Fallen Soldiers at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
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September 9, 2009 – This Veterans Day, November 11th, a collaboration of local organizations will unite to honor roughly 20,000 veterans and their families at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. With volunteers estimated in the hundreds, every gravesite will be decorated with a bouquet of flowers in admiration of the sacrifices made by the members of our Armed Forces.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and the 200th birthday of America’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. In honor of this, Flowers for Heroes has teamed up other organizations including the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run to make this Veterans Day something to remember
A special Gold Star Family hour will take place at 8:00am where the families of those buried at ALNC will be presented special bouquets they can place on the resting place of their loved ones. Following the placing of the bouquets, there will be a special Veterans Day Ceremony featuring an aircraft fly-over and special guests including IL Gov. Pat Quinn.
The success of this event rests in the hands of the people and businesses in our community. Supporters can go to www.flowersforheroes.org and sponsor a patriotic bouquet in the name someone who is currently serving or has previously served in our nation’s Armed Forces. For $4, a bouquet of flowers will be placed on the resting place of another great American Hero at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.
“This is a very special day for every American as we honor our most patriotic citizens,” said Jerry Cizek, the Director of Operations at Flowers for Heroes. “We are thrilled to be able to bring together numerous military and veteran organizations at this special celebration for our Veterans.”
Flowers for Heroes is a nonprofit organization that has been working on these types of events all across the nation. At the group’s most recent event this past Independence Day, over 5,000 bouquets were placed at Gettysburg National Cemetery.
For additional information about the Flowers for Heroes organization, upcoming events, or ways to become involved, contact Jerry Cizek at (877) 923-2769 or visit www.flowersforheroes.org.
Contact:
Jerry Cizek, Director of Operations
Flowers for Heroes
(877) 923-2769
www.flowersforheroes.org
Nation’s Second-Largest Cemetery is Site of Memorable Veterans Day Ceremony
Elwood, Ill., November 11th – There is nothing more important in our country than taking the time to recognize the men and women who have bravely given their lives in order to serve our country. Veterans Day, an annual holiday which is generally observed on November 11th, exemplifies the previous statement. Not only was Wednesday was a special day and a great opportunity for the United States to show their support and remembrance for the soldiers who have given their lives, but it was also a chance to honor the families of those fallen soldiers.
What began as a special morning eventually led to a very memorable Wednesday afternoon as a Veterans Day ceremony was held at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery by the Flowers for Heroes organization, a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor all of America’s fallen soldiers at veteran cemeteries and to assist America’s Gold Star families – those families who have had father, mother, son, or daughter killed while serving in our nation’s Armed Forces. Flowers for Heroes hosted the event, but were also assisted by the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run and other community organizations and families, who each helped in contributing.
Wednesday’s ceremony provided the opportunity to pay tribute to the members and their families laid to rest at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery – the second largest cemetery in the nation in acreage and also the home to more than 20,000 American heroes. Along with these intriguing facts, the cemetery is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.
The ceremony attracted thousands of supporters who made their way around the cemetery to honor the fallen soldiers by placing a bouquet of flowers upon each tombstone. The later portion of the ceremony featured numerous special guests, many of whom spoke before an emotional, teary-eyed crowd. Some of these special guests included Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Miss Illinois, live music from Joe Cantafio and other Military officials. The ceremony also featured a fly-over, taking place in the midst of our nation’s National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance.
For additional information on Flowers for Heroes and the Veterans Day ceremony, please visit www.FlowersforHeroes.org.
The Flowers for Heroes non-profit organization was created in an effort to honor those who died protecting our freedom as Americans and support their families as they struggle with their loss. We recognize that Gold Star families need our support and developed a rewarding way to raise funds in order to provide that assistance.
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