Polo Women’s Club participated in the annual wreath ceremony held at Fairmount Cemetery on Nov. 6, 2025.

Annie from Shaw Local radio interviews Chris Mueller, a La Salle native with 15 years of service, who tells what he did during active duty and reserve duty, and what he's doing now

Midwest Veterans Closet will host a Turkey Giveaway for veterans on Nov. 21.

Shaw Local Radio's Annie interviews Jerry Bacidore, a La Salle native on Veterans Day. Bacidore spoke about his active duty service, reserve service, and Team Rubicon, a volunteer organization started by a combat vet

Shaw Local Radio's Annie interviews Terry and Rodney Johnson of Princeton. Terry runs local Quilts of Valor and Rodney runs Flags of Freedom I-80.

The stories of veterans, including U.S Army veteran and Kankakee Police Deputy Chief Donell Austin, were front and center on Tuesday morning during the Kankakee County Veterans Council’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Kankakee County Museum.

On one of the coldest mornings of the 2025 autumn, a hardy group of past and present military veterans completed a 4.5-mile run past the three Manteno schools for a heart-warming annual event - the Manteno Veterans Run.

The American Legion will be serving a turkey dinner with all the trimmings from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Post 12, 1120 W. First St., Dixon.

The cold weather and wind forced the Morris American Legion Post 294’s annual Veterans Day Observance indoors on Tuesday, as local veterans and city residents gathered to pay their respects.

The Oswego American Legion Post 675’s annual Veterans Day ceremony was held Tuesday at the Oswego Veterans Memorial Plaza in downtown Oswego.

The Oregon School District's Veterans Day Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, included songs by students in each grade level, musical selections by the junior high and high school bands, and recognition of all veterans.

Attendees came out in large numbers for Veterans Day ceremony at Joliet American Legion hall.

Clinton Rosette Middle School celebrates Veterans Day with tributes to local veterans. “I thought it was a very positive and just a great experience for the students and a good way to celebrate a few of our local veterans,” principal Brant Boyer said.

Check out our photos from Veterans Day ceremonies throughout northern Illinois

Parkside Middle School held their annual Veterans Day program on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 at Parkside Middle School in Peru.

Members of the Knights of Columbus held a ceremony and placed flags at the gravesites of veterans Tuesday in McHenry County Memorial Park Cemetery, in Woodstock. Members of the Knights of Columbus Patriotic 4th Degree from the Bishop Boylan Assembly placed American flags at nearly 140 veterans gravesites in the cemetery. Bob Schafer stated: "As members of the Patriotic Degree of the Knights of Columbus, we want to remember those veterans that are at this final resting place. They all contributed to the freedom we enjoy in the USA, and we are here to show our appreciation and respect for their service.”

Students at Lincoln School honored Veterans on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in Princeton. A pair of United States Coast Guard commanders, Erin Chlum and Matt Saldivar, were the guest speakers during the event.

Hall High School held a Veterans Day program and WWII Memorial Park dedication on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at Hall High School. The park is located on the southeast side of the school to continue the tribute to the 24 fallen soldiers who attended Hall High School in WWII. These were all part of Ella Sartain's Eagle Scout Service Project. Ella is a Hall student with the Class of 2026.

A flag ceremony was held for Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at Stone City VFW Post 2199. A free community luncheon and health screening was also held at the post. The post has been under the new leadership of U.S. Army veteran Jose Guzman since last June.

Local veterans were recognized at a ceremony at Serena High School on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, attended by community members.

The American Legion Post 1080 in Joliet hosted a Veterans Day Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

A new leader at Joliet’s Stone City VFW Post 2199 has been working to bring in younger veterans like himself and grow the presence of the organization in the community.

McHenry worked with the American Legion to light up the city for Operation Green Light, honoring Veterans Day. And see other Veterans Day events.

Students at Merrill School in Rock Falls spent their school day Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, learning about veterans and the sacrifices they have made in service to the country.

Those who served were honored Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, during a Veterans Day ceremony in Dixon.

Area veterans visited Clinton Rosette Middle School in DeKalb this week to have brunch, chat with students in their classrooms, and take part in an assembly.

A Marseilles native, Trisha Modeen is a Navy veteran who is a nurse at Ottawa High School and is involved in the Quilts of Valor Foundation, which awards quilts to active duty or military veterans that have been touched by war

DeKalb’s annual Veterans Day ceremony returns downtown Tuesday morning.

Anthony Rowley of Rochelle has served in the United States Marines for the past 19 years. 

Merrill School in Rock Falls spent Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, hearing from local veterans and working on projects to thank them.

The meal is provided by members from the Plano Methodist Church and the Plano American Legion Auxiliary Post #395.

A Veterans Day ceremony will be held at noon Tuesday at the Sgt. Sator Sanchez Memorial Statue on Collins St.

Check out this list of national chains and locally-owned restaurants offering specials to service members on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Veterans Day events are planned across Kankakee County and beyond to honor local veterans on and before the Nov. 11 holiday.

Visit Culver’s of Rock Falls from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, and a percentage of sales will be donated to Whiteside County Honor Flight.

The Veterans Day ceremony is at 11:11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at Dixon's Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Keynote speaker for this event will be Lt. Commander Andrew Heil, Commanding Officer of the Rock Island Arsenal Naval Reserve Center.

Midwest Veterans Closet will host a grocery giveaway for veterans on Veterans Day.

The 11 a.m. ceremony is preceded by a performance by the Joliet American Legion Band and followed by alunch.

Air Force veteran Jen Solum head the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County, which plans to expand veterans services in 2025 as it moves into new building.

After serving as an Army sergeant, Floyd Dunn of Sterling is now serving again – this time by helping veterans face the hardships of life back home.

“He was always so proud to serve,” said Dixon resident Carla Hill of her son, a veteran of the United States Army, who died in August 2024 after a long battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Twenty-one years after retiring from the Navy Nurse Corps, Priscilia Laubscher, of Oswego, continues touting the teamwork and communication skills necessary to thrive under challenging situations.

Years after his two tours of service concluded, Bourbonnais resident Ty "Doc" Watson found his place in the world.

Steve Huber served in the United States National Guard from 1979-2012, including 26 years of active duty. His service included deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and reaching the rank of brigadier general.

Reza Jaddi said he is a huge champion of Wounded Warrior Project, Romeoville American Legion Post 52 and any veteran Jaddi happens to meet. He even bought a Humvee in 2017 to give the community an idea of "what our veterans used out in the field," he said.

James Patnode of Rochelle served in the United States Marines from 1965-1069. His service included two years in Vietnam.

Momence Superintendent Shannon Anderson found a solution to his aimlessness and struggles in high school through the Marine Corps.

Check out our photos from our Thank You Veterans special section in Kankakee County for 2025.

Check out our photos from our Thank You Veterans special section in McHenry County for 2025.