Restored Glen Ellyn veterans memorial to host Memorial Day ceremony

GLEN ELLYN ? A long-neglected veterans memorial has been spruced up and will once again host a Memorial Day service. The Memorial Day service will be from 11 a.m. to noonMay 30 at the new Heroes of Freedom Veterans Memorial in Spalding Point Park at Park and Crescent boulevards. The site previously had hosted the village's Memorial Day services, said Glen Ellyn resident Ron Aubrey, who since 2012 has worked on restoring the memorial. "In 1920, 1,000 people attended the ceremony," said Aubrey, who researched the history of Spalding Point Park. "They had state and national dignitaries come here to speak. Girl Scouts spread rose petals on Lake Ellyn as part of the ceremony." The project to restore the memorial began after Aubrey installed plaques in front of four trees planted in 1968 to honor the memory of four former Glenbard West High School students killed in the Vietnam War. Among those who were killed was 1961 Glenbard West graduate Bruce Capel, a standout member of the school's football team. "He was a fierce competitor," Aubrey said. "He hit extremely hard on the field. But he was a gentle giant off the field." This year is the 50th anniversary of his death on May 12, 1966. As Aubrey set about to restore the memorial, he first had to clear the site of the invasive vegetation that had covered the park. "Everything was overgrown," he said. "You couldn't see the fence." A stone monument installed in June 1934 to honor Civil War veterans ? part of the village's centennial celebration ? was the only part of the memorial that was still left, Aubrey said. The restored memorial now features five flags representing each branch of the military along with an American flag that is flying on a flag pole that previously was in the yard of Capel's parents. "How fitting to repurpose this to fly Old Glory again," he said. The Heroes of Freedom Memorial honors not only those who died serving our country, but also those who served on the homefront through such activities as selling war bonds or writing letters to soldiers. "They served in another capacity," Aubrey said. Aubrey doesn't want people to forget those 193 Glen Ellyn veterans who served in conflicts dating back to the War of 1812. He said he is working with Kristin Brandt, Glenbard West social studies department chair, and her students to research the 193 local veterans and publish their stories on the Heroes of Freedom Memorial's website, glenellynheroesoffreedom.org. "The goal is to discover their unique stories and share them with the world to ensure their perpetual living legacy," Aubrey said.