Downers Grove in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Alexander Bradley Burns Post No. 80 War Veterans Memorial
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 30, 2025
1. Alexander Bradley Burns Post No. 80 War Veterans Memorial Marker
[Main plaque on the front:]
Erected as a lasting tribute to all those who served our country during all wars
"A Bicentennial Project"
[Plaque at base:]
In honor of those who served, and in appreciation of those who donated
Erected 1976 by Alexander Bradley Burns American Legion Post #80.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Vietnam • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the The Spirit of 76, Americas Bicentennial Celebration series list.
Location. 41° 48.795′ N, 88° 0.94′ W. Memorial is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Saratoga Avenue 0.2 miles south of 41st Street, on the left when traveling north. The memorial is in front of the main entrance to Post 80's building, north of Doerhoefer Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 4000 Saratoga Avenue, Downers Grove IL 60515, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: World War I Memorial (a few steps from this marker); DuPage County Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Suburban Habitat (approx. 0.4 miles away); Pierce and Lucy Downer Burial Ground (approx. 0.6 miles away); Pierce Downer (approx. 0.6 miles away); Bicentennial Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Downer Burial Place (approx. 0.6 miles away);
this page online
More about this memorial. The memorial obelisk is affixed with more than a dozen plaques that include the names of hundreds of local men who have served in the military since World War I. Flanking the memorial on either side of it are two retired artillery pieces. The park around the post's building includes several trees that are dedicated with small plaques for local veterans who served from World War I until today.
In front of the memorial, near the road in front of the post's headquarters, are several older plaques that were erected by a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. While they are all older than the obelisk, it is not known if these were erected elsewhere and moved here later.
Also see . . . About American Legion Post 80.
Excerpt: Alexander Bradley Burns, for whom this post and unit are named, was born in Downers Grove, the youngest of J.M. and Mary Burns. He had just graduated from Downers Grove High School when the war broke out and was one of the first to enlist. He joined(Submitted on March 31, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)Battery C of the First Illinois Field Artillery, later the 149th F.A., known as 'Reillys Bucks', after Henry J. Reilly, Colonel and later Brigadier General. This unit was part of the famous 'Rainbow' division, which was composed of National Guard units from all parts of the United States.... 'Alec', as he was called by all of his friends, was wounded on March 10, 1918 near Fremenic, in the Tuneville sector, while repairing wire which ran from the advance position to the battery to direct fire. He died two days later and was buried in a small French cemetery there. He was later buried in one of the large U.S. cemeteries in France. He had volunteered for the work when extra heavy enemy shelling had caused several breaks. It was while he was in an exposed position that a shrapnel shell exploded directly over him, wounding him in 23 places. The French government conferred the Croix de Guerre on him posthumously. He was the first of our boys from Downers Grove to make the supreme sacrifice.Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 30, 20252. War Veterans Memorial dedication plaque
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 30, 2025
3. War Veterans Memorial small dedication plaque
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 30, 2025
4. Alexander Bradley Burns Post No. 80 War Veterans Memorial
The post's building is on the right side of the photo.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 30, 2025
5. Alexander Bradley Burns Post No. 80 War Veterans Memorial
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 30, 2025
6. East-facing side of the War Veterans Memorial
The east-, south- and west-facing sides of the memorial include a series of plaques showing of local veterans.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 30, 2025
7. Tree memorials on Post #80 property
The field behind the veterans memorial has at last a few dozen trees with small plaques dedicated to local veterans.
Courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-171794), circa 1918
8. Alexander Bradley Burns
Alec Burns, the namesake of Downers Grove's American Legion Post 80, died in France in 1918 of wounds suffered when an enemy shell exploded near him. He was a native of Downers Grove and had just graduated from Downers Grove High School when he joined the war effort.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 153 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on March 31, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
