Wheaton in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
"For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025
1. "For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today" Marker
This memorial commemorates DuPage County residents killed in military conflicts at home and abroad beginning with the Black Hawk War in 1832 and continuing on to our most recent overseas engagements. Also honored are the five branches of military service with special recognition of five DuPage county veterans who received the Medal of Honor for selfless valor in battle.
The memorial was designed as a sundial to symbolize the temporal nature of war and illustrate the chronology of our nation's conflicts. The use of this ageless clock transcends time by acknowledging the great human sacrifice that surrounds all wars past and future.
Each day the shadow of the sundial gnomon passes over every name in a daily remembrance of those who gave their lives for their country.
The memorial is also an astronomically correct timepiece that measures not only time of day but also the month of year and solstices of the sun.
Erected 1999 by DuPage County Board.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Military. In addition, it is included in the Black Hawk War, and the Medal of Honor Recipients series lists.
Location. 41° 51.989′ N, 88° 8.355′ W. Memorial
this page online
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 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: Lester W. Weber (here, next to this marker); James H. Monroe (here, next to this marker); The Medal of Honor (here, next to this marker); James W. Robinson Jr. (here, next to this marker); Wells H. Blodgett (here, next to this marker); Fred Faulkner Lester (here, next to this marker); DuPage County Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Robert J. Miller (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wheaton.
More about this memorial. The plaque is part of the DuPage County Veterans Memorial, first established in front of the DuPage County complex in 1999. Other elements include a sundial and a plaque describing how to use it; a set of tablets with the names of DuPage County's war dead since the Black Hawk War; a plaque about the Medal of Honor and individual plaques dedicated to the county's Medal of Honor recipients; a set of flag poles and a Gold Star Families monument near a set of crosses with the names of recent war dead.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025
2. "For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today" Marker
In the background to the left is the main part of the Veterans Memorial, which includes a plaque about the Medal of Honor, plaques dedicated to those from DuPage County honored with the Medal of Honor, and a set of tablets with the names of DuPage County's war dead dating back to the Black Hawk War.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025
3. DuPage County Veterans Memorial
Several memorials to veterans sit in front of the DuPage County Complex in Wheaton.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025
4. DuPage County Veterans Memorial dedication plaque
This plaque is on the walkway from the right (east) that leads to the main parts of the Veterans Memorial.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025
5. Instructions for reading the Veterans Memorial sundial
The marker is left of the walkway.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025
6. The Veterans Memorial's sundial
Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on November 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 14, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
