South Chicago marks Memorial Day with tribute to fallen Vietnam veterans

CHICAGO (WGN) — A wreath laying procession and taps played on a trumpet were part of the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in South Chicago.

The annual event, held at 91^st Street and Brandon Avenue, brings the veteran community and neighborhood together.

It began with a ceremony wrapped around the intention of raising funds for a beloved mural honoring 12 Mexican American veterans who were killed in the Vietnam war.

“Our Lady of Guadalupe lost more young men than any other parish in the country,” Ald. Peter Chico (10^th Ward) said. “It impacted this parish and community like we couldn’t imagine, so we come here to carry on this legacy every year.”

The lives of the 12 young men who were parishioners of the church are remembered with a mural and stone garden.

“This was done decades ago by someone in the community, and we feel it’s time to restore it and bring it back to life,” Ald. Chico said.

For over a year, efforts have been underway to raise at least $100,000 to restore the mural and provide masonry repairs like tuckpointing to the wall. Organizers say at least $69,000 has been raised.

“The young men who lost their lives; they were brothers, they were friends, they were cousins. And we haven’t forgotten about them,” Ald. Chico said.

A fundraiser will take place on June 22 at the church with mariachi, food and drinks in hopes of reaching their goal.

“We come together collectively, as a community, as one, to carry on the legacy of our fallen from this community,” Ald. Chico said.

Donations can be made to the South Deering American Legion #1238 at PO Box 170237 Chicago, Illinois, 60617, or visit their GoFundMe page.