Arlington Heights funeral home renews personalized tribute to vets
Glueckert Funeral Home will renew its annual personalized tribute to veterans living and deceased at this year's Arlington Heights centennial Memorial Day parade, and it's still not too late for those who want their loved ones included.
Families and volunteers including Scout troops will carry American flags and wear sashes bearing the names of active duty service members and veterans in the Glueckert entry in the parade, set to step off at 9:30 a.m. May 27, from village hall.
Until May 22, the funeral home will accept requests for honorees through a form on its website, glueckertfuneralhome.com. Forms are also available at the funeral home, 1520 Arlington Heights Road.
Glueckert customizes honor ribbons with names, branches of service and, if applicable, wars served in, and volunteers or family members march in the parade wearing the ribbons.
Some also carry the flags that were presented at funerals with military honors; many bring smaller flags to waive during the parade route.
Jackie Glueckert, who coordinates the annual "Honor Flags" effort, said the idea came seven years ago to honor deceased veterans one more time by carrying their funeral flags in the parade. It's since expanded to include living vets and active duty military.
Last year, nearly 200 people carried flags and wore banners with the Glueckert group.
"So many vets haven't been thanked enough," Glueckert said. "This is our way of saying thank you."