CHRIS FOX PHOTO
Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2801 held its annual Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11. The speakers included Jim Blankshain (pictured), the post’s commander. Blankshain noted how people frequently thank him for his military service. “My response is usually, ‘I’m an American, and I was proud to serve,’” he said. The post honored all veterans of the United States Armed Forces during last week’s ceremony. It also paid a special tribute to longtime post member Charles “Sid” Bergh, who passed away in October at the age of 94. Bergh, who was the post’s last surviving World War II veteran, served for many years as the master of ceremonies for the post’s Veterans Day and Memorial Day services. The main room at the post, which is located at 39 E. St. Charles Road, had been known as the Oak Room. During last week’s service, the post announced it was renaming the room to the Charles “Sid” Bergh Room.
