Lyons Township salutes veterans with Wall of Honor

LA GRANGE – Glancing at the framed newspaper clippings, patriotic murals and interactive touch screen that are part of the new Wall of Honor at Lyons Township High School, Rich Jesswein smiled.

“It is phenomenal,” the Navy veteran said. “This is really something.”

Jesswein was among about two dozen veterans who attended the school’s 10th annual Veterans Day assembly Nov. 11 and then visited the Wall of Honor.

About 2,000 students – representing the entire junior and senior classes – sat in the north campus field house for the assembly.

Jesswein, commander of VFW Post 10778 in Western Springs, took the time to read nearly everything on display. He likes its location on a wall near the cafeteria.

“It makes me proud that they’re going to see this and remember,” said Jesswein, who joined the Navy in 1961 when he was 17. “I say this a lot, freedom is not free. And they are so lucky to be able to go to this school and able to see what has transpired before them. Maybe it will inspire them to join the service.”

Jesswein used the interactive touch screen to look up information about Robert E. Coulter Jr. That name probably rings a bell for anyone who regularly drives south of 47th Street on La Grange Road where the Robert E. Coulter Jr. American Legion Post 1941 is located.

A 1931 graduate of Lyons Township, Coulter died in 1943 in a plane crash in North Africa during World War II.

The interactive screen allows visitors to check on Lyons Township graduates by their name, branch of service or the decade in which they graduated.

“I like it. I like it a lot,” said Eugene Copp, 89, of Lyons.

A 1948 graduate of Argo Community High School, Copp, who grew up in Summit, was an Army Corporal in the Korean War.

This was his third event Nov. 11. He earlier attended Veterans Day ceremonies at the Lyons Village Hall and his old high school.

“This means a lot to me,” Copp said of Veterans Day. His late uncle, LeRoy Copp, is listed on a memorial wall at Argo High School, he said. LeRoy Copp died in 1943 during World War II.

“Three classmates of mine were killed in the Korean War,” Copp said. “I saw their names. I played football with them. It was a very memorable day.”

The Wall of Honor had a soft opening during homecoming weekend. Now someone at the school for a function can visit the wall, said Jennifer Bialobok, the school’s community relations coordinator.

Social studies teacher Mike Morrison had the idea to bring all the plaques dedicated to the school’s veterans together in one place, art teacher Patrick Page said.

Page and several students spent long hours over the summer working on the project. Students researched the history, gathering newspaper clippings and yearbook stories and photos, Page said.

Veterans interested in seeing the Wall of Honor can call the school for information about setting up an after-hours visit, Bialobok said.

Before the wall was unveiled, several students spoke during an assembly about the history and meaning of Veterans Day.

Senior Carmela Scambiatterra, 17, of La Grange, played a moving rendition of “Taps” on her trumpet.

“It’s difficult to make it sound really pretty,” Scambiatterra said of the song.

For Scambiatterra, Veterans Day hits home. Her mother, Gracie Scambiatterra, served in the Air Force, and her grandfather, Sam Scambiatterra, served in the Navy.

“It’s interesting to see all the veterans, the whole country, come together as one,” she said.

The keynote speaker was Fred Barofsky of Western Springs. A 1963 graduate of Lyons Township, he graduated from West Point in 1967. He served in Germany, where he met Erika, his wife of 48 years, and later was sent to Vietnam. He was presented with 15 medals, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, for his service.

The field house, Barofsky reminded students, stands where the LTHS football field was years ago.

He recalled two friends who didn’t return alive from Vietnam.

“I think about them a lot because, frankly, they never got to be veterans,” Barofsky said.

“One percent of our population has served in the military, 96 members of Congress, 25 percent of our first responders are veterans, two-thirds of our astronauts are veterans, seven of your LT faculty are military veterans,” Barofsky noted.

He’s encouraged by the country being more responsive to veterans’ needs with programs such as Wounded Warriors.

“The country is standing up and trying to make life better for us veterans,” he said.

“When I was at LT, we got Veterans Day off,” Barofsky said. “We didn’t think twice about the veterans at that time. Now, you all don’t have a choice.”

Peter Geddeis, director of student activities, has been at LTHS for 11 years. He tweaks the assembly each year to keep it fresh for students and veterans.

“I have a lot of military in my family. I kind of feel it’s one way I can express my thanks to them,” Geddeis said. “it’s very heartwarming to see the veterans come out.”

Junior Jobran Abouassaf, 16, of Brookfield said the assembly “is a great opportunity to honor all veterans who served in the past and to reflect on what they did, and to celebrate that.”

His grandfather served 30 years in the Syrian Army, he said.

This year’s theme was Making A Difference, and students were urged by Principal Brian Waterman to learn more about their own families’ military histories.