In the News

Lake County News Sun, May 31, 2010

The gallant dead of this town have a special place in the hearts of those who carried on.

A crowd of about 200 gathered Sunday to honor the 22 who died in service to the nation between 1908 and 1963.

"There's no place quite like Highwood, and it really comes together on Memorial Day - paying tribute to those who died for our country," said state Sen. Susan Garrett.

Sunday's ceremony was held in front of City Hall and and included an informal dedication of the new veteran's memorial, said Tom Schmidt, commander of the Highwood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4741. A total of 110 bricks were installed at the memorial less than a week ago, but it can handle another 200 bricks, he said.

"We're very happy with it, (but) I expect the amount (of engraved bricks) to double because we don't have a crowd here like this every day," Schmidt said.

The idea for the brick memorial developed last year, Schmidt said. The concrete around the 20-foot obelisk was in "bad" shape, he said, and a child was injured there on opening day of the Highwood farmers market. The city asked the VFW to repair it, and a maintenance problem became an opportunity to do something better.

"I thought if we had to fix it, why not get bricks in there?" Schmidt recalled.

He said the memorial bricks drive became a joint effort by the VFW and Highwood American Legion Post 501.

Legion Post Cmdr. Bruno Bertucci pointed out the brick memorializing the late Brigadier Gen. Dean Meucci, who served between 1955 and 1987. Meucci grew up in Highwood and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1952. His military career included serving in Korea and later in the Illinois National Guard, Bertucci said.

The flag flown at half-staff on Sunday was in his honor, Bertucci said.

"I'm so touched and honored," said Michele Meucci, Meucci's widow.

She said a friend of her late husband ordered the memorial brick, and Meucci was surprised to learn of the new brick memorial.

"I was dumbfounded - I didn't think anything like this was going to happen," she said.

Some of her children were among those attending the ceremony.

Bertucci was one of the few surviving WWII veterans in attendance. He was in the Army during the war.

"Every year, there are fewer WWII and Korea veterans, but we carry on," Bertucci said. "The purpose today (Sunday) is to honor those who gave their life for our freedom. Freedom is not free - in other words, someone died for our freedom."