By Dee Longfellow
Madigan receives Bronze Star
This is Spec 5 Mark Madigan (right) receiving the Bronze Star for Valor from Brigadier General David E Thomas for helping to save the lives of two fellow soldiers from a burning armored personnel carrier. Madison also received a Purple Heart for his actions. “A big fellow from Oklahoma got between me and the vehicle when it blew up,” Madigan recalled. “Were it not for him, I would not be here.” Madigan will serve as Honorary Starter of this year’s 41st annual Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot.
It’s not unusual for a decorated veteran to be modest about his service and accomplishments. That was the case with Elmhurst resident Mark Madigan, who earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart during the Vietnam War, helping to save at least two people’s lives when an armored personnel carrier (APC) struck a mine.
“I was a medic and I was on a vehicle several yards behind them,” Madigan told the Independent. “When I saw it happen, I jumped off and ran up there [to the APC], where two men were stuck underneath. I was able to pull both of them out, just before the APC blew up.
“I’ll never forget this great big fellow from Oklahoma. He was standing between me and the APC when it blew up right after I pulled out the second guy. He was such a big guy, he easily blocked me from the danger, although he got burns on his back.
“Had that man from Oklahoma not been there, I wouldn’t be here today. He was a big guy who could take the blow, but I was smaller than him. I would have been blown to bits if he hadn’t been there.”
Madigan, who grew up in Elmhurst and was the oldest of 13 siblings, is set to be this year’s Honorary Starter at the 41st annual Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot (DGTT), which steps off 9 a.m. Thanksgiving morning on Thursday, Nov. 28, from Park and Cottage Hill avenues in downtown.
The Platinum sponsor of the 5K race will be Jel Sert and Premier sponsors Endeavor Health-Elmhurst Hospital and Kelly Stetler Team/Compass.
The mission of the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot Foundation is to be a major player in the fight to eradicate hunger in DuPage County.
“People think nobody goes hungry in a wealthy area like DuPage County, but that’s not true,” Gibbons said. “Not only is there hunger, but often in a wealthy area, it’s hard for people to ask for help.”
With the first Turkey Trot taking place on Nov. 22, 1984, it’s hard to believe that 40th year milestone has been reached. (Oglethorpe, the official turkey mascot of the DGTT, is about to be fitted for bifocals—what else happens when you turn 40?!)
There were 17 beneficiaries of last year’s DGTT including local places such as the Elmhurst Walk-in Assistance Network (EWAN), the Elmhurst Yorkfield Food Pantry (EYFP), the Immaculate Conception Food Pantry and United Community Concerns Association (UCCA). The event raised $220,000 in 2023 and Gibbons hopes this year’s proceeds will top that number.
“We like to get checks in [beneficiaries’] hands before the holidays,” said Gibbons who always has a significant statistic to add every year. “I learned that 56 percent of the people in the United States have less than $1,000 in their checking and-or savings account. People think that’s not the case here in DuPage County, but it’s true.”
Asked how he felt about being selected as Honorary Starter of the 41st DGTT, Madigan quipped, “It’s about time Dan asked me!
“I am humbled and honored to be selected; this is a legacy—it’s Dan’s legacy—but I’m proud to be a part of it.”
And a part of it he is indeed—he’s been at almost every race, including the very first one.
“Every year at the finish line is a big reunion,” Madigan said.
Gibbons indicated there were 5,500 people who have already registered online—he expects 8,000 total runners and walkers when it’s all said and done. He has people registered from 32 states, three foreign countries and 837 cities outside of Elmhurst.
Besides Madigan as Honorary Starter, The Men of Spirito are scheduled to perform prior to the race, and Jim Cornelison will return for the National Anthem, as the Lima Lima Flight Team draws beautiful white lines across the skies above (weather permitting), in a missing man formation.
How do they do it? Every year, just as Cornelison sings, “… and the rockets’ red glaaare,” the Lima Lima team roars by overhead. Gibbons confesses he gives a signal to someone who alerts the team—it takes one-minute and five seconds for the planes to arrive. Over the past 40 years, he has mastered the timing of the Lima Lima arrival.
As the race steps off, “What A Wonderful World,” by Louie Armstrong plays.
To register for the DGTT, visit dangibbonsturkeytrot.org. Online registration closes on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. People can register in person as well as pick up packets on Saturday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Race day in-person registration and packet pick up takes place from 7-8:30 a.m. at the Elmhurst University gymnasium at 221 Walter St.
For the safety and welfare of all race participants, people are asked to leave their pets at home.
To get to the race, you are invited to park at York High School, 355 W. St. Charles Road, or at U.S. Bank, 536 S. York St. (at Vallette). There will be shuttles running from these locations to the Elmhurst University main parking lot, which is just two blocks from the starting line.
The south route will also have two pick-up and drop off locations on Spring Road, across from Spring Inn and across from My Car Wash, next to Mehta Motors.
