Reservations due Oct. 29 for Nov. 9 Veterans Day Luncheon

Online Staff Report

Friday, Nov. 9, Cremation Society of Illinois and Hospice Care of America will host a Veterans Day Luncheon starting at 11 a.m. at Tebala Shrine Temple, 7910 Newburg Road. The event is free for veterans.

Keynote speaker will be John Bates, USNR retired veteran. Bates graduated from Rockford Auburn High School and attended DeVry Institute of Technology and Rock Valley College. He joined the Naval Reserve July 1, 1965, and was discharged from active duty in November 1968.

Bates returned to the reserves in 1981, joining the Assault Craft Unity One (ACU-1), retiring in 1997. He is Vietnow’s national director, Vietnow National POW/MIA chairman and Winnebago County Veterans Association Sergeant at Arms.

Additional speaker will be Bob Persinger, World War II veteran, who will be sharing actual pictures taken by himself and members of his squadron during the Battle of the Bulge.

Event space is limited. Reservations are required by Oct. 29 and can be made by calling (815) 282-6202.

Posted Oct. 26, 2012