Heroism remembered on Veterans Day in Barrington
Bill Groves serves as emcee, Charlie Brule offers keynote speech
Retired US Army Colonel Charlie Brule stood in front of the crowd and shared some good news.
Just before offering the invocation for the Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Brule said he had …
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Heroism remembered on Veterans Day in Barrington
Bill Groves serves as emcee, Charlie Brule offers keynote speech
Retired US Army Colonel Charlie Brule stood in front of the crowd and shared some good news.
Just before offering the invocation for the Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Brule said he had already said a prayer for the weather, and “We’re good with the rain.” In fact, the rain drops held off until well after the ceremony concluded at Barrington High School’s Victory Gates.
The overcast sky and pleasant temperatures created a nice backdrop for the event, which included a wreath-laying, the recitation of names of Barrington residents killed while serving their country, the reading of a patriotic poem, and a short speech by Brule recognizing the efforts of US Army Chaplain Emil Kapaun who died while serving in the Korean War.
“I had read about him through the years, in my military readings,” Brule said. “I always felt, to a small degree, that we always pay tribute and honor to the combat arms soldiers. And I think it’s time that we mention some of the chaplains that were very heroic under intensive situations.”
Brule’s speech offered vivid details of Chaplain Kapaun, who repeatedly risked his own like to save the lives of hundreds of fellow Americans. Kapaun, who also served in World War II, was eventually captured during the Korean War, and died as a prisoner of war.
“A real gallant individual deserving of the Medal of Honor,” Brule said of Chaplain Kapaun. “It took a while, but his boys, as he called them, stood up and lobbied and made a difference.”
Brule said he was very happy to be able to share the story of Chaplain Kapaun with the crowd outside the high school on Veterans Day.
Major Bill Groves, US Army Vietnam veteran and vice president of the Barrington United Veterans Council, served as the master of ceremonies, and a joint Boy Scout Color Guard from Troops 2 and 46 raised the American flag.
The Barrington High School Choral Ensemble sang the National Anthem, and Taps was performed by BHS Trumpeter Matt Davis. There was a wreath-laying ceremony and a patriotic poem was read by Ken Lass, a US Navy veteran.
