:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/KNH4YSVEHSCGVIFFW7ZTCMNICM.jpg)
Retired U.S. Army Col. Wayne T. Kirkpatrick embodies what it means to be an American patriot.
Kirkpatrick, vice president of the Indian Grove subdivision in unincorporated Algonquin, is a reliable helping hand to those in need.
“If I’ve got time or expertise that I can offer to make our community better, then I feel there’s a personal obligation to do so,” Kirkpatrick said. “When you serve two-and-a-half decades of your adult life protecting the freedoms we have, that doesn’t stop. You go back to your communities as a retiree and you feel this moral obligation to continue to be involved in developing our quality of life.”
Kirkpatrick also serves as board chairman of the local Rolling Thunder chapter, a group committed to prisoners of war and those missing in action. Kirkpatrick served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1990.
“Rolling Thunder is a nationwide group to keep the POW/MIA issue strong and in front of the American people,” Kirkpatrick said. “We bring all the remains back that we can. We want every serviceman accounted for. We do that through education, parades, demonstrations and ceremonies.”
Kirkpatrick said America has a duty to the men and women who served.
“There are 88,000 Americans still unaccounted for,” he said. “Each one of them have a family member. ... You never leave a serviceman behind. In my tenure on active duty, that was gospel. You never, ever left anyone behind.”
Neighbor William Brodick said Kirkpatrick epitomizes the American spirit.
“He does great things,” Brodick said. “He is always first to help somebody. ... He’s just a good neighbor. He’ll help anybody anytime or anyplace. He’s usually one of the first to volunteer.”
Brodick also highlighted Kirkpatrick’s efforts repairing discarded bicycles last Christmas season so veterans in need could give their children a quality gift.
“He’s always doing something to help veterans,” Brodick said.
When questioned about the bicycles, Kirkpatrick replied: “A kid’s bicycle does not belong in the trash at Christmastime.”