On the evening of Wednesday Jan. 10, the Elmhurst American Legion Post THB 187 hosted an event to honor Adam Raynor, Zachary DeRose and Alex Davis, three members of the Illinois Army National Guard’s 34th Division Sustainment Brigade, headquartered in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. Their unit is being deployed later this month to Kuwait at Camp Arifjan, in support of “Operation Spartan Shield,” where they expect to remain for 10 months.
The event organizer Post Junior Vice Commander Eric Pulia, who is a former member of the 34th Division Sustainment Brigade.
“We wanted to show these three young men that the Elmhurst American Legion and our community support those who are deployed abroad with the United States Military to ensure our freedom and way of life here at home,” he said. “National Guardsman and Reserve Soldiers don’t often get the credit for their service as ‘Citizen Soldiers’ who put their careers, family, and life on hold to defend our great nation.”
The event was attended by many local veterans and post members, as well as many local elected officials including Mayor Scott Levin, several current aldermen, former Mayor Pete DiCianni, DuPage County Board member Cindy Cronin Cahill, and former DuPage County Board member Sean Noonan. The post is looking forward to hosting such events in the future and continuing to be a home for local veterans and those that support them.
The Elmhurst American Legion THB Post 187 wishes to remind the community of its many upcoming events and activities, including Wednesday Night Bingo, Friday Night dinners with live entertainment, video gaming in the bar, and banquet space available for parties and large groups.
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ERIC PULIA PHOTOS Elmhurst Independent
Meeting the mayor
Elmhurst Native Alex Davis (left) beams a big smile after having a chance to meet Elmhurst Mayor Scott Levin. It happened on the evening of Wednesday Jan. 10, when the Elmhurst American Legion Post THB 187 hosted an event to honor Davis and two other recruits, Adam Raynor, and Zachary DeRose, who are being deployed to Kuwait later this month as part of the Illinois Army National Guard’s 34th Division Sustainment Brigade.
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What a send-off!
Here at the Elmhurst American Legion Post THB 187 is the whole group of distinguished residents and well-wishers, who came out for a farewell send-off celebration for three young men about to be shipped to Kuwait with their Illinois Army National Guard unit. The three young men about to deployed are pictured in the front row, beginning fourth from left, Adam Raynor, Alex Davis and Zachary DeRose.
Bill Shanklin (right) offers some advice to the three recruits before their unit is shipped off to serve in Kuwait in support of “Operation Spartan Shield,” later this month. Garnering all the knowledge he had to share are (from left): Adam Raynor and Alex Davis. Zachary DeRose is facing Shanklin.
headquartered in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. Their unit is being deployed later this month to Kuwait at
, the Soldier with the red ISU shirt is Zachary DeRose, and the other Soldier is Adam Raynor (in the main group shot he’s to the right of Alex Davis)
