Homewood Vets Dance, Dine For Good Cause

The Homewood Canteen Benefit was in full swing at the Saturday, with a chance to dance with a sweetheart, reconnect with friends over dinner and remember soldiers old and young.

Army National Guardsman Mike Rickert, dressed in his grandfather's WWII uniform, swung date Ashley Heckler, 21, around the floor. His dance moves were enough to impress the judges, who awarded the couple first prize in the "jitterbug" contest. The Homewood man and his date got a $25 gift certificate to .

The Ben Clark Quartet kept the joint jumping with Mark O'Connor on sax, Nate Jackson on guitar, Katie Bolmarz on upright base and Doug Adams on drums. The group has a repertoire of '30s and '40s classics. 

"Everybody's enjoying themselves," Adams said. 

Veterans Committee Chair Charlene Dyer said the benefit dance had turned into a family affair, with her niece Lori Spee, 29, a Tinley Park schoolteacher, helping out, as well as  her aunt Lucille Marks.

"She's 80, but she's got legs like she's 20!" Dyer said. 

Her late father, Walter Spee, is one reason why she can't forget the veterans, said Dyer, 62.

"My Dad was a marine in the South Pacific for many years," she said. "He didn't tell many stories, but we know it affected him."

While the headlines of America's veterans may be transient, Dyer said some will never forget.

"The ones who fought the wars, they'll never forget, the ones who love them will never forget," Dyer said. "Freedom is a continuous battle."

Dyer estimated the turnout at about 150, with each buying a $15 ticket. The Veterans Committee's next step is to approach military chaplains to find out the best way to benefit area military families, she said.

WWII Army veteran Bob Silverman, 87, said his service was no big deal.

"I'm no hero, I didn't go overseas," Silverman said.

Instead, Silverman said he was entrusted with the task of guarding German POWs.

Fellow WWII veteran Richard White recalled his service in the Battle of the Bulge.

"I was in field artillery and our mission was to counter-attack Germans and press them back into Germany," said White. 

White vividly recalls graduating junior high school at in 1939, and Thornton High School in 1943. After that, he was quickly drafted and "that was the beginning of my education," he reflected.

As the two old soldiers talked with White's wife Louise, they were invited to sit for a photo with Thomas' Photographic Services, which was commissioned by the town to take a picture of every vet present. Just in case they didn't want to be alone in the photo, they had a choice of posing with a cardboard cutout of John Wayne or Marilyn Monroe.

Laura Chmielak and Vivian Rickhofm, of the Markham VFW Post, drove down to Homewood to attend the event.

"We came down to show support, that's what we do," Chmielak said.  

Rickhofm said her mother had sent four sons to war.

"She was a gold star mom," said Rickhofm.