La Grange remembers its veterans on Memorial Day with bell ringing at Lyons Township

Steve Jasinski is remembering friends lost from his old National Guard unit this Memorial Day, like every year.

"When we were in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, my old National Guard unit had the highest loss of men in the state of Illinois," said Jasinski, now the Vice Commander of Robert E. Coulter Jr. American Legion Post 1941, of LaGrange. "They were school teachers and post men. They served their country as guardsmen. I think of them every Memorial Day."

Those and others like them will still be remembered this weekend, even if it is in a different fashion.

The Robert E. Coulter American Legion Post 1941, now in its 76th anniversary, will recognize La Grange residents that gave their life for their country. The Lyons Township north campus bells will chime 107 times on Monday morning for the 107 residents who lost their lives from the Civil War up until today.

In most years, the names of the people are read at a ceremony at Lyons Township, with a 21-gun salute and playing of Taps at the flagpole. Following that event, they travel to six local cemeteries for a 21-gun salute, with a final ceremony at the Legion building.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, those gatherings won't happen – but those residents will still be remembered.

"It's been discussed for a while, we kept waiting to see what the government would do; we wanted to do something," Jasinski said. "We still have to memorialize all those guys. We figured this was a nice way to do this and remind our community of the sacrifice of others."

In addition to the bells ringing, there will also be a rifle volley from Lyons Township.

"We still wanted to make sure the community had a moment to remember," said Steve Palmer of Post 1941. "I think this will be very special and very emotional for those that understand it and those that hear it."

Jasinski can recall participating in the ceremony when he was a Boy Scout, and recalled when he was younger 200-300 people gathering at Lyons.

"It's a nice remembrance, trying to figure out a way to remember our friends that we have lost," Jasinski said.