Kendall County Board honors Purple Heart recipients, vaccination volunteers

The Kendall County Board on July 20 paid tribute to two recipients of the Purple Heart and those who volunteered at the Kendall County Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Board Chairman Scott Gryder declared Aug. 7 Purple Heart Day in the county before awarding two local Purple Heart recipients a plaque during a July 20 board meeting. The military decoration is the oldest in the country, first created by George Washington in 1782. The honored Purple Heart recipients were William Sutton and Norm Meier.

“Kendall County wishes to pledge its gratitude for the many residents who made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives in the cause of freedom, and continued support for the numerous combat-wounded veterans who currently reside within the county and the many Purple Heart awardees who contribute to their communities in countless ways,” Gryder’s proclamation reads.

The board later passed a resolution honoring volunteers at the vaccination clinic, which was accepted by county health department executive director RaeAnn VanGundy.

“Kendall County was a leader in the state of Illinois in the organization of vaccination clinics,” Gryder said, noting that health officials organized clinics at the future Yorkville City Hall and Yorkville High School. “The Kendall County Health Department’s mantra of getting shots in arms put Kendall County as a leader in the state of Illinois with zero wasted vaccines in the first five months.”

Editor’s note: a prior post of this article incorrectly listed Chad Lockman, superintendent of the Kendall County Veterans Assistance Commission, and Bernie Boeger as Purple Heart recipients in a photo caption. We regret the error.