Feb 21, 2018

Decommissioning Gold Star Memorial At Dan Ryan Woods





As the nation honor its veterans this week, a ceremony was held Thursday to decommission a longtime memorial in Chicago that pays tribute to fallen soldiers. The memorial in the Dan Ryan Woods will be restored, then relocated.

The area near 87th and Western in the Beverly neighborhood is as bustling as it is beautiful. The Dan Ryan Woods are right there - a testament to how this city values natural spaces. But hidden in the woods for decades was something that never should have been forgotten. Its discovery now - at this time of year - reminds us to never forget. It's a long-forgotten place to go, remember and heal.

Perhaps a century after it was put up by a group calling itself the Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers, a 4-foot-high monolith that once displayed a sizeable plaque is decommissioned -- but to rise again.

"It has a rebirth. It is going to be bigger, it'll be better and the mothers will be remembered," said former Chicago alderman and Marine James Balcer.

Those mothers were presumably the sorrowful souls who lost children in World War I, before the American Council of Gold Star Mothers was even formed. Their heirs are pledging to be their voice again, including a woman who played in these woods as a child, and lost her son in war five years ago.

"We serve veterans and their families as part of our healing and it is part of our mission. Does that work for you? It works great for me," said Modie Lavin, a Gold Star mother.

The monument was uncovered over the last few years as the Cook County Forest Preserve cut back invasive species. Now through public and private money, it will be restored and eventually moved across 87th Street to a place of honor by the local visitor's center. Sandy Ochsner's son James died fighting in Afghanistan 12 years ago.

"This is wonderful to honor whoever put this up," Ochsner said.

"Is that a reminder to us to never forget? People forget, I have never forgotten, the sacrifices to this country, the men and women that have died for it we should all remember," Balcer said.

"The loss of a child is grand for us and to have these mothers most likely in this area of Chicago to erect this in memory of their sons, and that connection as I stand here today in 2017 is quite magical," Lavin said.

Research suggests the monument went up sometime in the 1920s, but before 1928, when the Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers would have been absorbed into the national organization we know today. But there are really no records to speak of.

If the slab of stone can't be repaired, it will be reimagined into a new monument, probably costing all in $150,000 to $200,000.

Forgotten World War I Monument Will Be Dismantled And Moved After ...

https://www.dnainfo.com/.../world-war-i-monument-dan-ryan-woods-forgotten-moving...
Oct 5, 2017 - BEVERLY — A forgotten World War I monument will be dismantled and later moved within the Dan Ryan Woods following a "decommissioning ceremony" at ... A small plaque that reads "Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers" is all that remains on the monument that stood shrouded by tall weeds for years.

Crumbling War Memorial In Dan Ryan Woods Being Used As Outdoor ...

https://www.dnainfo.com/.../crumbling-war-memorial-dan-ryan-woods-being-used-as...
 
Apr 29, 2016 - BEVERLY — A crumbling monument in the Dan Ryan Woods erected long ago to honor fallen members of the military is being used as an outdoor toilet stall. ... Flynn authored a profile on Dan Ryan Sr. for The Beverly Review on March 9. ... One of the few groups he allowed to erect monuments ...

Will Forgotten World War I Monument Get Some Much Needed ...

https://www.dnainfo.com/.../world-war-i-monument-dan-ryan-woods-87th-western-chic...
May 17, 2017 - A crumbling war memorial in the Dan Ryan Woods will be the subject of a meeting set for 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Ridge Park in Beverly. The only remaining marker on the monument reads "Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers." View Full Caption. DNAinfo/Howard A. Ludwig. BEVERLY — The fate of a ...

[PDF]decommissioning of the chicago council of gold star mothers memorial ...

nwvu.org/admin/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/decommission.pdf
 
Nov 9, 2017 - STAR MOTHERS MEMORIAL AT. DAN RYAN WOODS. The Memorial located at the intersection of 87th Street and Western Avenue has endured many hardships. Erected after the World War One by the Chicago. Council of Gold Star Mothers to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice their children paid in the ...

Forgotten Chicago Public Group | Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/forgottenchicago/permalink/10155347141674520/
 
A group of local residents seeks your help in regards to a long forgotten WWI era monument put in place by a group called The Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers. This organization was founded by mothers who had lost children in the Great War. The monument, currently located in the Dan Ryan Woods Forest Preserve ...

Decommissioning Ceremony for CCGSM memorial - Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/events/320688045065116/
 
We are planning a decommissioning ceremony on November 9th at 11 AM for the Chicago Council ofGold Star Mothers memorial at Dan Ryan Woods. Please share. About Chicago Council of Gold StarMothers. Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers. Community. The sole purpose of the Chicago Council ofGold Star ...

Local residents seek new site for Gold Star memorial | Community ...

www.beverlyreview.net/news/.../article_855895e2-3fc7-11e7-aab7-7bb5235bcece.ht...
 
May 23, 2017 - The condition of a monument honoring fallen soldiers at 87th Street and Western Avenue, in the Dan Ryan Woods, has become a concern for local residents, who are investigating if they can move it to another location. The monument contains the inscription, “Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers.

Memorial set for decommissioning ceremony Nov. 9 | Community ...

www.beverlyreview.net/.../article_019b4122-add2-11e7-8f57-3358e3464c16.html
 
Oct 10, 2017 - The Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers memorial on the southeast corner of 87th Street and Western Avenue is set to be relocated. A decommissioning ceremony will take place on Nov. 9, and the memorial will eventually be moved to the northeast corner of 87th and Western, in front of the Dan Ryan ...

Feb 19, 2018

I learned a few things I didn't know!

 I learned a few things I didn't know!
Charles Van liere MPHS Jan 66

'A SHOT OF WHISKEY'
  - In the old west a .45 cartridge for a six-gun cost 12 cents, so did a glass of whiskey. If a cowhand was low on cash he would often give the bartender a cartridge in exchange for a drink. This became known as a "shot" of whiskey.

 
BUYING THE FARM - This is synonymous with dying. During WW1 soldiers were given life insurance policies worth $5,000. This was about the price of an average farm so if you died you "bought the farm" for your survivors.

 
IRON CLAD CONTRACT - This came about from the ironclad ships of the Civil War. It meant something so strong it could not be broken.

 
RIFF RAFF - The Mississippi River was the main way of traveling from north to south. Riverboats carried passengers and freight but they were expensive so most people used rafts. Everything had the right of way over rafts which were considered cheap. The steering oar on the rafts was called a "riff" and this transposed into riff-raff, meaning low class.

 
COBWEB - The Old English word for “spider" was "cob".

 
SHIP STATE ROOMS - Traveling by steamboat was considered the height of comfort. Passenger cabins on the boats were not numbered. Instead they were named after states. To this day cabins on ships are called staterooms.

SLEEP TIGHT- Early beds were made with a wooden frame. Ropes were tied across the frame in a crisscross pattern. A straw mattress was then put on top of the ropes. Over time the ropes stretched, causing the bed to sag. The owner would then tighten the ropes to get a better night’s sleep.

 
SHOWBOAT - These were floating theaters built on a barge that was pushed by a steamboat. These played small town along the Mississippi River . Unlike the boat shown in the movie "Showboat" these did not have an engine. They were gaudy and attention grabbing which is why we say someone who is being the life of the party is “showboating".

 
OVER A BARREL - In the days before CPR a drowning victim would be placed face down over a barrel and the barrel would be rolled back and forth in an effort to empty the lungs of water. It was rarely effective. If you are over a barrel you are in deep trouble.

 
BARGE IN - Heavy freight was moved along the Mississippi in large barges pushed by steamboats. These were hard to control and would sometimes swing into piers or other boats. People would say they "barged in".

 
HOGWASH - Steamboats carried both people and animals. Since pigs smelled so bad they would be washed before being put on board. The mud and other filth that was washed off was considered useless “hog wash".

 
CURFEW - The word "curfew" comes from the French phrase "couvre-feu", which means "cover the fire". It was used to describe the time of blowing out all lamps and candles. It was later adopted into Middle English as “curfeu" which later became the modern "curfew". In the early American colonies homes had no real fireplaces so a fire was built in the center of the room. In order to make sure a fire did not get out of control during the night it was required that, by an agreed upon time, all fires would be covered with a clay pot called-a “curfew".

 
BARRELS OF OIL - When the first oil wells were drilled they had made no provision for storing the liquid so they used water barrels. That is why, to this day, we speak of barrels of oil rather than gallons.
   
HOT OFF THE PRESS - As the paper goes through the rotary printing press friction causes it to heat up.  Therefore, if you grab the paper right off the press it’s hot. The expression means to get immediate information.

 
There, don't you feel smarter now?

Betcha Didn’t Know That
The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for Blood plasma.
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No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven (7) times.
Oh go ahead .. I'll wait...
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Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes or shark attacks. 
(So, watch your Ass)
 
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You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
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Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty (50) years of age, or older.
****************************** ****************************** ****************
The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum. 
****************************** ****************************** *************
The King of Hearts is the only king WITHOUT A MOUSTACHE 
****************************** ****************************** ***************
American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one (1) olive
from each salad served in first-class.
****************************** ****************************** **************
Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

 
(Since Venus is normally associated with women, what does this tell you?)
(That women are going in the 'right' direction...?)
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Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.
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Most dust particles in your house are made from DEAD SKIN!
****************************** ****************************** ************ ****
The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.
So did the first 'Marlboro Man'.
****************************** ****************************** ***************
Walt Disney was afraid OF MICE!
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PEARLS DISSOLVE IN VINEGAR!
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The ten most valuable brand names on earth:  Apple, Coca Cola, Google, IBM, Microsoft, GE, McDonalds, Samsung, Intel, and Toyota,  
in that order.
****************************** ****************************** **********
It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...But, not downstairs.

(Why in the heck would you want to take a cow upstairs?
Sounds perverted to me.)
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A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
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Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush..

(I keep my toothbrush in the living room now!)
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 Turtles can breathe through their butts.

(I know some people like that, don't YOU?)
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  Remember, knowledge is everything, so pass it on......   Now go move your toothbrush!   And stop folding that darn paper!


Feb 13, 2018

Happy Birthday, Dave




Dave Innes MPHS Jan 66 and friends celebrating his 70th birthday.  Wow, we’re all getting up there in years!

Chuck Kuenneth
MPHS Jan 66

Feb 12, 2018

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