Vet honored with eagle head cane
Waukegan Township celebrated Veteran's Day Saturday with a moving tribute to Purple Heart veteran Frank Reinier, the recipient of an eagle head presentation cane, given to soldiers who have suffered severe leg injuries.
(Michael Schmidt/News-Sun)
The Eagle Cane Project, started in 2004 by the Eastern Oklahoma Woodcarvers, has rapidly spread to carving groups and individual carvers across the country, including Illinois.
At Saturday's ceremony, former Marine Corporal Sgt. Ron Golec, who carved Reinier's cane, stood with him as the cane and wooden holder were pulled from a box. The 100 people at Park Place Senior Center clapped and oohed as Reinier hugged Golec and whispered, "Thank you, friend."
Reinier, 62, of Zion served in the infantry in the 11th Brigade in Vietnam's Duc Pho region. He took a bullet in the leg that tore out part of an artery and other veins. "It was so hot it cauterized it. You feel the pain, see the blood, but you don't stand still. The shot came out of nowhere," he said.
Golec said he has carved over 20 of the beautiful canes as part of the Eagle Cane Project run by Soldier's Angels. The group has made over 220 canes since 2007. Golec told the crowd that when you see a veteran, "simply lean over and say 'Thank you.' It means more than all the medals being awarded," he said.
Reinier also had a similar message. "Want to see a veteran smile? Stop by the VA and just say hello," he said, referring to the Veteran's Administration Hospital. He also shared a favorite saying. "All gave some, some gave all, and some are still giving," he said.
Reinier is the commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Waukegan Chapter 323 and at one point he looked at the Waukegan High School JROTC Drill Team present and said he hoped that they won't join his group. "We'd rather see peace," he said.
The 13th annual veteran's luncheon was hosted by Patricia Jones, Waukegan Township supervisor. During the event she read the famous poem, "Freedom isn't free." "We understand we are free because of the young men and women who sacrificed their lives," she said.
"It's the right thing to do to give homage to those who help celebrate our freedoms," she said. Before the luncheon she commented on the recent shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. "Our prayers, our concerns, our blessings are extended to those individuals that suffered and died in that attack," she said.
State Rep. Eddie Washington, D-Waukegan, also mentioned the Fort Hood attacks, saying that you never know when your time will come. He said he is working to make veterans a high priority in Springfield.
Mayors Robert Sabonjian of Waukegan and Leon Rockingham of North Chicago spoke as well as Retired Major Carter Bell of Antioch, Lt. Comdr. Desiree Richardson, a nurse in the U.S. Navy and retired Major Al Clark of Waukegan.
Bell said his career in the military taught him many things, such as being nice to people, how to be a parent and a leader. "There is a God and he never gives you more than you can handle," he said, adding that patriotism means going out and serving other people.
Richardson also made a call for volunteerism in her remarks suggesting people join groups that work with wounded veterans at the VA. "The military taught me to respect myself and seek excellence in everything I did," she said. "I salute you (veterans) for your service."
Clark made everyone laugh with what he said was his wife's advice to him when she learned he was going to give a speech. "Be good, be brief and be gone," he said. "It's an honor to be amongst you," he said. "I love and respect all of you."
