The 4th Annual “Salute to Our Armed Forces” event was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton in Alsip, IL. All branches of service men and women were honored for serving their Country with pride and distinction at a ceremony held on Thursday, October 16, 2014. Among the attendees/honorees were MPMA Chicago Chapter #2 members: Dr. Stacy L. Henderson, MPMA National Queen, 2013-15 (U.S. Navy Retired); Eugene (Gene) Campbell, Community and Special Projects Committee (U.S. Marine Corps Veteran) and Charles Salley, Public Affairs Officer (U.S. Marine Corps Veteran).
The ceremony included a moving POW-MIA Remembrance Service, Patriotic Songs, Poetry Tributes and Award Presentations. Special recognition was extended to the Original Montford Point Marines of Chicago: Herbert Burks; Edward Carter; Wendell Ferguson; Edwin Fizer; Thomas Frederick; Hue Griffith; Harry Hamilton; Lenon Lathan; Andrew Miles; Raymond Murray; Theodore Peters; James Reynolds; Eugene Smith; Joseph Smith; Stanley Porter; Frank Thrasher; and John Vanoy. The Guest Speaker was Liz Cook of Honor Flight Chicago who shared a pictorial/video presentation–which featured interviews with Chicago Montford Pointers James Reynolds and John Vanoy. The Congressional Gold Medal recipients visited the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC this past July, compliments of Honor Flight Chicago. Dr. Henderson, Charles Salley and Eugene Campbell proudly accepted a ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ on behalf of each of the MPMA Chicago Chapter #2’s Montford Point Marines. Mrs. Sharon Stokes-Parry (U. S. Marine Corps, Retired) is the Chicago Chapter #2 President and the MPMA Central Region Vice-President.

More than 300 veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces in war time and peace time were honored that day for their contributions and sacrifices for our nation. The celebration was presented by Cook County Commissioner Joan Patricia Murphy, Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, Dignity Memorial and the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton.
Photo courtesy of: Mary Stroka, Staff Writer-Fanning Communications