• VictorLaGroonDirectorofVeteransAffairsMayorsAdvisoryCouncilonVeteransAffairsleftstandingwithmembersofAVERandSen.Durbinleftofcenter-picbyHalBaim
    (left to right) Victor LaGroon, Director of Veterans Affairs, Mayor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs, AVER members Mary Ellen Burns, Patrick Bova, Marquell Smith and Tim Zylstra with Sen. Durbin (left of center), and AVER members Stan Jenczyk and Jim Darby. Photo by Hal Baim
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    Members of AVER visited the grave of murdered U.S. Navy serviceman Allen Schindler. Left of center is Schindler’s mother Dorothy. Fhoto from AVER
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In observance of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the Chicago chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) hosted the annual Veterans Day dinner with gay veterans and friends at Ann Sather on Belmont; received recognition for last year’s dedication of the monument honoring the service of LGBT veterans; and visited the Steger, Illinois, grave of murdered U.S. Navy serviceman Allen Schindler.

Professor Mark Wojcik of John Marshall Law School spoke at the Veterans Day dinner and was honored with the presentation of the Happy Warrior award. Also honored for their service and support were AVER members Bernie Santarsiero and Cari Bausone.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois presented a Congressional letter honoring the first federally approved monument honoring the service of LGBT veterans, initiated and commissioned by the local chapter of AVER and now standing in the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.