VETERANS DAY by Rose Zivat, staff writer A small crowd gathered yesterday morning at the 100th St. Tank Memorial site, located at S. 100th Street and S. Ewing Ave., for a brief Veterans Day memorial service. Cub Scout Pack 773 together with Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th Ward) and veterans from the 10th ward and other parts of the state were present at the ceremony, which was followed by a luncheon at the Crow Bar. This was the third annual Veterans Day Ceremony and Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by the South Shore Post 388 and Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza. Both sponsors agreed to sharing the event on the East Side and in Hegewisch, alternating each year. After the ceremony, I headed over to the luncheon. This year I wanted to feature a story about a Vietnam veteran. Luckily, finding Vietnam veterans at the luncheon was not a problem. I sat down at a table with a group with three men whom I had never met. We made our introductions and I asked them if I could interview them for the newspaper. As I started to write down one man’s account of being left behind in enemy territory and a fellow comrade shielding himself under rats, I thought about an article that I read about Veterans wanting people to just listen to them and I put my pen down. I knew at some point I’d have write down some facts for my story, but this was not the time. The men I interviewed turned out to be Carl Sabin of Hegewisch, Tony Mickus of the East Side, and Rob Stanley of the East Side. All Vietnam veterans. Sabin joined the Marines and told me that yesterday was the Marines birthday (243 years-old). Both Mickus and Stanley were drafted into the Army. After listening to their stories, I asked them if they would share their thoughts about the climate of the military today and the young men and women being sent overseas. “I don’t think they should have ever gotten rid of the draft,” said Mickus. “I agree. The draft makes us become better citizens. It makes us more disciplined,” said Stanley. Sabin nodded in agreement that the military does make us more disciplined. He lives in Hegewisch and has two children, twins Colleen and Carl J. His daughter is a Chicago Police Officer and his son a Chicago Fireman, both residents of Hegewisch. For Sabin Veterans Day is an important day that honors all veterans. “When we came home it was hard. It was unpopular. People called us baby killers and said that we were all on drugs,” said Sabin.

2

I asked Sabin what his thoughts were on today’s generation and getting young people to play a more active role by attending Veterans Day ceremonies and working with veterans - the crowd that morning at the tank was a small one. “My daughter brought my grandkids to the tank ceremony this morning. She knows it’s like a dying trade and she’ll keep teaching them the importance of Veterans Day,” said Sabin. In addition to Vietnam, WWII, and Korean War veterans who attended yesterday’s luncheon, there was an Iraq War and Afghanistan War veteran present. Army Capt. J.P. Callahan, age 31, of Chicago Heights, Ill., served a tour in both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. When asked what Veterans Day means to him, he stated, “It’s an opportunity to thank those who came before us. Coming to events like this connects us. It’s like being with family.” Army Sgt. First Class Jason Torres, originally of New York City, served two years in the Iraq War for him Veterans Day is a chance to honor those who set the path for him. Yesterday also marked the 100th anniversary of the armistice ending WWI on Nov. 11, 1918. Finally, I learned that Rob Stanley wrote a book called Once upon a time in South Chicago and I look forward to reading it. If you’d like a copy, please email Mr. Stanley at sochicago21@aol.com. Whether you’re spending your day today running errands, spending time with family, or maybe even working, please consider taking a minute to honor those who have served in our military and use today as a teaching tool to remind your child or children what this day is about and how they can honor our veterans.

Left (without helmet): Ed Marco. Right (without helmet): Tony Mickus. (Photo courtesy of Tony Mickus.)

Book cover. Once Upon A Time in South Chicago by Rob Stanley. (Photo courtesy of Tony Mickus.)

3

Left to Right: Carl Sabin (Marines/Vietnam); Tony Mickus (Army/Vietnam); and Rob Stanley (Army/Vietnam). (Photo courtesy of Rose Zivat.)

Left to Right: Army Sgt. First Class Jason Torres and Army Capt. J.P. Callahan). (Photo courtesy of Rose Zivat.)