Local VFW Leader Vargas is Illinois Veteran of the Month

Lou Vargas, the commander of local VFW Post 9545, was honored Wednesday night.

Lou Vargas, the 64-year-old Commander for New Lenox VFW Post 9545, was honored as Illinois Veteran of the Month at a Wednesday night celebration at the Vine Street facility.   A crowded room full of veterans ranging from those who fought in World War II till the current Middle East conflict, their families and well-wishing governmental officials, including New Lenox's Mayor Tim Baldermann, Illinois Rep. Emily McAsey (D-Lockport), staff members from U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Manteno) and Illinois Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi (D-Joliet), along with Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas, joined in the festivities to honor Vargas. The recipient of the Outstanding Chairman's Award from the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County, and commander …

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PHOTO GALLERY: Vietnam Moving Wall Closes on Somber Note

The half-size replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall spent its final day in New Lenox on Memorial Day.

It was a brief and somber goodbye to the Vietnam Moving Wall, which had been in New Lenox over the weekend. Lincoln-Way West students sang the Star Spangled Banner and The Mansions of the Lord, and there was a brief rifle salute and the playing of Taps. After just 20 minutes, the closing ceremony was completed but the crowd of hundreds was asked to stay as long as they wanted to pay tribute to the soldiers whose names are forever engraved on the wall. The half-size traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., made its way to the "Home of Proud Americans" in New Lenox this weekend, and we caught up with some veterans, visitors and volunteers who came to see the moving monument. To see our previous coverage, click on the …

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Know Your Neighbors

VFW Commander Reflects on Vietnam, Life Serving Veterans

Lou Vargas, the New Lenox VFW commander, was recognized in January for his outreach efforts.

Editor's note: This article originally published Jan. 20, 2011, but was re-posted for Memorial Day. The foul odor of rotting foliage and decaying bodies had seeped into the air. The soil itself seemed angry, because it was soaked with blood and bloated with the remnants of human fear, anger that later turned to hate, and a sense of self-imposed isolation. This lonely existence dominated the lives of on-the-ground U.S. soldiers stuck in the surreal hell that was Vietnam under siege in the late '60 and early '70s. On Jan. 11, the day after 64-year-old Lou Vargas received the Outstanding Chairman's Award from the Veterans Assistance Commission Will County, he recounted his year-long trip through the valley of death, which ultimately led to …

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Michael Sewall

7:28 pm on Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Thank you for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed it. New Lenox Patch launched about seven months ago and this is truly my favorite article that's appeared on our site.   more ›

Friendship, Honor and Commitment: Meet Local Veterans

New Lenox veterans shared their stories with Patch this week.

Every veteran has a different story, but many will say his or her's isn't worth telling -- not compared with the person's next to them. Some will say they weren't injured as badly as others, or that they didn't see combat, so their stories are "boring." But sit around the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9545, and there will be stories of friendships, hardships and battleships, stories with the underlying theme of service to the country. Here are the stories of some of our community's veterans: Bettenhausen, 87, served during World War II with the Quartermasters, a unit that specializes in bringing supplies to the troops. He served from 1943-46 and was based in Liege, Belgium. The Quartermasters usually stayed about one week behind …

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Michael Sewall

1:20 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Thanks, Pam! I wasn't aware but that's great news.   more ›