Yorkville in Kendall County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Kendall County Veterans Memorial

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 27, 2025

1. Kendall County Veterans Memorial

The large plaque on the left features the names of Kendall County servicemembers who died in war. The two smaller plaques are related to its dedication in 1969 and a state recognition of the monument in 2019.

Inscription.
To those of Kendall County who gave their lives in the service of our country

Spanish American War
Ames, Arthur • Burson, Leon S. • Cole, Ivan C., Cpl. • Davidson, Wm. M. • Halverson, Harry • Nelson, Harvey L. • Ragness, Andrew C. • Severtson, Albert • Tesdall, Ornell A. • Thompson, Fred P. • Whiteman, Wm. Ray

World War I
Belli, Paul R., Pvt. • Blackman, Paul H., Pvt. • Brown, Arthur E., T/Sgt. • Burson, Douglas L., 2nd Lt. • Collins, Samuel L., S/Sgt. • Collins, Thomas C., Pfc. • Comly, Albert E., Pfc. • Dobbs, Virgil E., 2/Lt. • Eichwald, Howard W., Pvt. • Elliot, Charels H., Maj. • Espevik, Leif E., 2/Lt. • Fox, Burton K., 2/Lt. • Fox, Warren L., Capt. • Franklin, Robert F., Mm 1/c • Freeman, John S., Sgt. • Fugate, Kay Z., Sm 1/c • Gauer, Ferdinand E., Pvt. • Gjerde, Raymond, A., Pfc. • Holdiman, Elwyn, Cpl. • Jackson, Arnold S., S/Sgt. • Johnson, Donald, Cpl. • Jorgenson, Wesley D., Pfc. • Knudson, Russell O., 1/Lt. • Lagow, Lawson S., Sm 1/c • Landis, Donald R., Pfc. • Lee, Merrell V., 2/Lt. • Lucas, Victor Tec. 4 • Lund, Joseph R., S/Sgt. • Mall, Russell L., S/Sgt. • Marklein, Calvin R., Pvt. • Martin,

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Nelson H., Pvt. • McVicker, Samuel W., Cpl. • Metge, Arnold E., Pfc.

World War II
Parkhurst, Stuart A., Sgt. • Ryan, Arnold J., CPO • Rye, Elmo M., Pvt. • Sandberg, Fritz R., Capt. • Seaton, Glenn F., Pfc. • Schneider, Frank E., Pfc. • Weeks, Robert K., Ens. • Zink, Fran M., Pvt. • Zwoyer, Paul E., Jr., 2/Lt. • Kittleson, Russell O., 1/Lt.

Korea
Voga, Osmond Jr.

Vietnam
Brunner, Hans W., Cpl. • Haines, Michael S., Pfc. • Harbin, Gary L., Pfc. • Heriaud, Frederick C., Pfc. • Lake, James L., Sgt. • Olson, Mark, Pfc.

Erected 1969 by American Legion Post 489.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, Korean • War, Vietnam • War, World I • War, World II.

Location. 41° 38.799′ N, 88° 26.785′ W. Memorial is in Yorkville, Illinois, in Kendall County. It is on North Bridge Street (Illinois Route 47) north of Main Street, on the right when traveling south. The memorial is in Yorkville Town Square Park. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Yorkville IL 60560, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial

Kendall County Veterans Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 27, 2025

2. Kendall County Veterans Memorial Marker

is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and 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: The Mills of Kendall County (a few steps from this marker); Bristol Churches and the Underground Railroad (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Yorkville Congregational Church (about 300 feet away); Rachel L. Wright (approx. 0.3 miles away); Yorkville's Blackberry Creek Mill Stone (approx. 0.3 miles away); Illinois' Northern Boundary (approx. 0.4 miles away); Kendall County Historic Courthouse (approx. 0.4 miles away); Kendall County World War Memorial (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorkville.

More about this memorial. According to a report from the Morris Daily Herald about this memorial's dedication on Memorial Day 1969, the feature at the top of the memorial is called "Perpetual

Yorkville Town Square Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 27, 2025

3. Yorkville Town Square Park

To the left of the veterans memorial is a memorial to the Kendall County's first mills along the Fox River.

Flame of Freedom," a replica of the eternal flame at Arlington National Cemetery. The memorial is 26 feet high, including the 10-foot-tall plaque with the veterans' names.

Regarding Kendall County Veterans Memorial. It is almost certain that the placement of the wars' names on the left side of the plaque with the names of war dead corresponds to the men above them. So, the names below Spanish American War were people who died in World War I, and those below World War I died in World War II. The men below World War II, Korea and Vietnam do correspond to their wars. A plaque appears to be missing above the Spanish-American War plaque; it is not known what used to be there or when it was removed.

For example, Leon Burson, the second name beneath Spanish American War on this memorial, was a member of the 131st Infantry Regiment (the former 1st Illinois) who was killed by an artillery shell in France in August 1918. (His full story can be read in the article under "Also see...")

Also see . . . History on the Fox blog: World War I soldiers deserve our President’s recognition and respect. A blog devoted to Kendall County

Kendall County Veterans Memorial dedication plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 27, 2025

4. Kendall County Veterans Memorial dedication plaque

Ambrose Trippon lived in Oswego and was a member of the American Legion post who dedicated this memorial. Henry Lippman lived in Plano and was a Pearl Harbor survivor.

history looks at a few of the local men who died in World War I, including Fred Thompson and Leon Burson, the first two county men to die in the action, and Archie Lake, who is not included on this memorial. (Submitted on June 29, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 27, 2025

5. Kendall County Veterans Memorial

This 2019 plaque honors the American Legion post that erected the memorial 50 years earlier.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 27, 2025

6. Kendall County Veterans Memorial

A view of the memorial from across Bridge Street (Illinois 47).

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 147 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 29, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on June 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on June 27, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 29, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.