Franklin Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Veterans Memorial

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

1. Veterans Memorial

The tablet offers a history of wars with American involvement. Not visible on the left side of the stone is a history of the Civil War

Inscription.

Veterans Memorial. . [First tablet on the left:] American Civil War April 12, 1861 April 26, 1865. Initiating the conflict between the industrial based north and agriculturally based south was the southern bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. This was a result of escalating tensions over slavery, states rights and the election of Abraham Lincoln. Over the next four years America's bloodiest conflict claimed 620,000 live and vast destruction, particularly in the South. Confederate forces surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox on April 9th and General Sherman on April 26, 1865., Spanish-American War April 21, 1898 - December 10, 1898. A swift and decisive war with Spain was the first major war for the United States after the American Civil War. The battleship "Maine" was dispatched to Cuba by President McKinley in response to strong Spanish rule of the residents of Cuba and the Philippines. The destruction of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor killing 266 crewmen resulted in the declaration of war. Within eight months, brilliant military victories including the naval victory in Manila and the capture of San Juan Hill in Cuba concluded with freedom for Cuba and the United States control of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines., World War I April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918. The killing of one man (Arch Duke Ferdinand of Austria) began the first war of the 20th century in 1914. While tensions increased between the United States and Germany, the sinking of the passenger ship Lusitania propelled the United States into the conflict on the side of England, France and other allied countries. At war's end, the United States suffered 300,000 casualties including 116,708 killed in action., World War II December 7, 1941 - September 2, 1945. A re-armed Germany began territorial expansion into Europe. Japan's armed takeover included islands and countries in the Far East. The Allied powers already at war with Germany were joined by the United States after a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Sunday, December 7, 1941. At the war's end 15 to 20 million military personnel were killed including 407,326 Americans., Korean War June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953. This war is sometimes referred to as "the forgotten war". It was fought to stop the expansion of Communism in the southern half of the Korean peninsula, which after the end of World War II was under the protection of the United States. President Harry S. Truman committed American troops and also secured assistance from the United Nations. All of these groups contributed to the armed forces for the defense of South Korea. This war claimed 33,686 American dead, 157,000 wounded and still to this day 8,100 unaccounted for., Vietnam War December 22, 1961 - May 7, 1975. Fears of Communist takeover led to United States support of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The United States opposed the revolutionary movement known as the Viet Cong and its sponsor, the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam, also known as North Vietnam. The conflict ended in communist rule and took emotional and economic toll on the U.S. beyond the loss of 58,151 American lives. [First tablet on the right:] The Franklin Park American Legion Post 794 They served to preserve our freedom.

[First tablet on the left:]
American Civil War
April 12, 1861 April 26, 1865
Initiating the conflict between the industrial based north and agriculturally based south was the southern bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. This was a result of escalating tensions over slavery, states rights and the election of Abraham Lincoln. Over the next four years America's bloodiest conflict claimed 620,000 live and vast destruction, particularly in the South. Confederate forces surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox on April 9th and General Sherman on April 26, 1865.

Spanish-American War
April 21, 1898 - December 10, 1898
A swift and decisive war with Spain was the first major war for the United States after the American Civil War. The battleship "Maine" was dispatched to Cuba by President McKinley in response to strong Spanish rule of the residents of Cuba and the Philippines. The destruction of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor killing 266 crewmen resulted in the declaration of war. Within eight months, brilliant military victories including the naval victory in Manila and the capture of San Juan Hill in Cuba concluded with freedom for Cuba and the United States control of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.

World War I
April

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6, 1917 - November 11, 1918
The killing of one man (Arch Duke Ferdinand of Austria) began the first war of the 20th century in 1914. While tensions increased between the United States and Germany, the sinking of the passenger ship Lusitania propelled the United States into the conflict on the side of England, France and other allied countries. At war's end, the United States suffered 300,000 casualties including 116,708 killed in action.

World War II
December 7, 1941 - September 2, 1945
A re-armed Germany began territorial expansion into Europe. Japan's armed takeover included islands and countries in the Far East. The Allied powers already at war with Germany were joined by the United States after a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Sunday, December 7, 1941. At the war's end 15 to 20 million military personnel were killed including 407,326 Americans.

Korean War
June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953
This war is sometimes referred to as "the forgotten war". It was fought to stop the expansion of Communism in the southern half of the Korean peninsula, which after the end of World War II was under the protection of the United States. President Harry S. Truman committed American troops and also secured assistance from the United Nations. All of these groups contributed to

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

2. Veterans Memorial

The dedication plaque and flagpoles lead up to the memorial itself, with tablets for the five branches of the U.S. military, a tablet describing America's participation in six wars, and another tablet dedicated to Franklin Park's American Legion Post. Two World War II-era howitzer guns flank either side of the memorial.

the armed forces for the defense of South Korea. This war claimed 33,686 American dead, 157,000 wounded and still to this day 8,100 unaccounted for.

Vietnam War
December 22, 1961 - May 7, 1975
Fears of Communist takeover led to United States support of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The United States opposed the revolutionary movement known as the Viet Cong and its sponsor, the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam, also known as North Vietnam. The conflict ended in communist rule and took emotional and economic toll on the U.S. beyond the loss of 58,151 American lives.

[First tablet on the right:]
The Franklin Park American Legion
Post 794
They served to preserve our freedom

Erected 2000 by Village of Franklin Park.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, Spanish-American • War, US Civil • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant, the Former U.S. Presidents: #25 William McKinley, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #33 Harry S. Truman series lists.

Location. 41° 56.23′ N,

Veterans Memorial dedication plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

3. Veterans Memorial dedication plaque

87° 51.875′ W. Memorial is in Franklin Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Belmont Avenue east of 25th Avenue, on the right when traveling west. The marker is to the west of the parking lot for the Franklin Park municipal building. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 9550 Belmont Ave, Franklin Park IL 60131, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: B-12 Tower (approx. ¼ mile away); Joe Thomas, Sr. Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Burial Site of Josette Beaubien (approx. 0.6 miles away); Gone Wild! (approx. 0.8 miles away); Connections! (approx. 0.8 miles away); Music Evolution! (approx. 0.8 miles away); Shelton Field (approx. 1.1 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin Park.

More about this memorial. The memorial's dedication plaque is to its front and right, next to Belmont Avenue. Beyond it are a series of flagpoles, two artillery pieces and a semi-circle of large tablets. The leftmost tablet provides a brief history of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The rightmost is dedicated Franklin Park American Legion Post 974 and lists roughly 100 names. Five larger tablets forming a circle between those two tablets are dedicated to the five branches of the

Veterans Memorial: U.S. Coast Guard tablet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

4. Veterans Memorial: U.S. Coast Guard tablet

military service, each with names on it; a key at the bottom of the first marker assigns a letter to the conflict each soldier fought in. Considering that the lists have dozens of names on them (too many to list here), it is presumed this it includes all Franklin Park-area soldiers who fought for those services, whether they perished at war or not.

Veterans Memorial: U.S. Navy tablet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

5. Veterans Memorial: U.S. Navy tablet

Veterans Memorial: U.S. Army tablet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

6. Veterans Memorial: U.S. Army tablet

Veterans Memorial: U.S. Marine Corps tablet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

7. Veterans Memorial: U.S. Marine Corps tablet

Veterans Memorial: U.S. Air Force tablet image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

8. Veterans Memorial: U.S. Air Force tablet

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

9. Veterans Memorial

Franklin Park's village square is in the background, with its gazebo in front of the village's water tower.

Veterans Memorial howitzer image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

10. Veterans Memorial howitzer

This is one of two howitzers that flank the walkway toward the Veterans Memorial tablets.

Howitzer description image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 19, 2024

11. Howitzer description

The description posted in front of the right howitzer at the Veterans Memorial. Donated by the U.S. Army, it has serial numbers 1856 and 4796. It is 19.66 feet long, 7.05 feet wide and 5 feet tall, and weights 4,475 pounds. It fires to a range of 1,750 yards. According to the description, the weapon was used in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, with 10,000 built until production halted in 1953.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 216 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 21, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on April 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3, 4. submitted on April 21, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on April 22, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.