A hearty breakfast including juice, coffee and “SOS” (veterans know what that is) is provided to all veterans and their spouses who live in the Village of Tinley Park or who are members of one of the Tinley Park military service organizations.
The Village of Tinley Park is grateful to local soldiers serving in the military and is seeking information on them so they can officially be welcomed home when on leave or returning. Family members, community organizations, or churches with information on soldiers currently serving in combat areas can fill out this form or contact Veterans Commission Secretary Roxane Tyssen at rtyssen@tinleypark.org.
In addition, if you're aware of someone who has been deployed to a different area or has permanently returned home, please indicate that so the Village can revise its care package list. Please include the soldier’s name and rank, unit number, name and phone number of person submitting the information and the soldier’s APO AE/FPO AP.The following form also can be faxed to Village Hall at (708) 444-5099 or mailed to:
In addition, if you're aware of someone who has been deployed to a different area or has permanently returned home, please indicate that so the Village can revise its care package list. Please include the soldier’s name and rank, unit number, name and phone number of person submitting the information and the soldier’s APO AE/FPO AP.The following form also can be faxed to Village Hall at (708) 444-5099 or mailed to:
Tinley Park Village Hall
16250 S. Oak Park Ave.
Tinley Park, IL 60477
ATTN: Roxane Tyssen, Veterans Commission
16250 S. Oak Park Ave.
Tinley Park, IL 60477
ATTN: Roxane Tyssen, Veterans Commission
In November 2020, the Village moved the Illinois Veterans of America Memorial from the site of the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center to Veterans Parkway. Staff from Bechstein Construction, a company from Tinley Park, donated their time to move the memorial. This memorial was dedicated on July 4, 1989 by the residents, employees and friends of the William A. Howe Development Center. It was originally conceived and designed by Bill Wilkens, Tom Dukes, Paul Taube and John Early.
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In 1917, WWI Army Capt. Robert Queissner of 5th Ohio Infantry had two sons serving at the front line in WWI. He designed the blue star flag for them. The Congressional record in 1917 stated: “The world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother is their children.” Quickly people began displaying this symbol in their window to designate that a member of their family was serving in the armed forces and it became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. Fast forward. The country fully supported our troops during WWII however, during the Korean and Vietnam wars, the display of the blue star flag in windows virtually disappeared. The flags appeared again during the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the Iraq War and the War on Terror.
The blue star represents that a family has one member currently serving in the U.S. military. It signifies hope and pride. The gold star represents a family with a member who made the ultimate sacrifice, that of losing their life while serving in the U.S. military. The gold star signifies sacrifice to the cause of liberty and freedom. A flag that displays multiple stars means there is more than one member of the family serving.
Former Veterans Commission Chairman Major Wiley Roberts, USAFR (ret) had a vision when Tinley Park’s blue gold star memorial was created. The placement of the blue star was intended to be closest to the train station representing the volunteer soldier leaving his home to serve in the armed forces. The gold star is placed closest to the downtown of the Village of Tinley Park, representing the fallen soldier returning home to a community that honors his service and ultimate sacrifice of his life.
The Illinois Veterans of America Memorial is like a crown jewel, a keystone supporting the archway of an entrance to the parkway. It was created in granite to stand in unwavering perpetuity flanked by three arborvitae evergreens on each side representing the six branches of the military. The placement of these trees signifies the strength and solidarity of our young volunteer persons who presently serve and those who continue to extend their initial voluntary service for several years to preserve our way of living in freedom and finally to those who have served and keep the commitment that our military shall never be forgotten.
The blue star represents that a family has one member currently serving in the U.S. military. It signifies hope and pride. The gold star represents a family with a member who made the ultimate sacrifice, that of losing their life while serving in the U.S. military. The gold star signifies sacrifice to the cause of liberty and freedom. A flag that displays multiple stars means there is more than one member of the family serving.
Former Veterans Commission Chairman Major Wiley Roberts, USAFR (ret) had a vision when Tinley Park’s blue gold star memorial was created. The placement of the blue star was intended to be closest to the train station representing the volunteer soldier leaving his home to serve in the armed forces. The gold star is placed closest to the downtown of the Village of Tinley Park, representing the fallen soldier returning home to a community that honors his service and ultimate sacrifice of his life.
The Illinois Veterans of America Memorial is like a crown jewel, a keystone supporting the archway of an entrance to the parkway. It was created in granite to stand in unwavering perpetuity flanked by three arborvitae evergreens on each side representing the six branches of the military. The placement of these trees signifies the strength and solidarity of our young volunteer persons who presently serve and those who continue to extend their initial voluntary service for several years to preserve our way of living in freedom and finally to those who have served and keep the commitment that our military shall never be forgotten.
The Village of Tinley Park and the Tinley Park Veterans Commission host the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Gen. Patrick E. Rea Veterans Plaza each May. Events include patriotic music, short speeches, a wreath-laying ceremony and a gun salute.
Tinley Park students in seventh and eighth grades are eligible to participate in a V.F.W. National program, Patriots Pen. Top national winners of this 300-word essay contest can receive savings bonds of $1,000 to $10,000. The Veterans Commission offers support and funding on the local level.
Friends and family of those in the Armed Forces can honor their heroes by purchasing bricks bearing personalized inscriptions that recognize the military person's service to our country. These bricks are incorporated into the walkway at the Gen. Patrick E. Rea Veterans Plaza, which sits adjacent to the south entrance of the 80th Avenue Metra train station, 18001 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park. Residents who are interested in purchasing a brick can fill out a Brick Paver Program application. The program is open to any individual who is a current or former resident of Tinley Park and has served, or is currently serving, in any branch of the service or is affiliated with any Village veteran organization. Applications are available at Village Hall, V.F.W. Post 2791 and American Legion Post 615.
The Village of Tinley Park's Veterans Commission has a Veterans Banner Program, available to honor any individual who is a current or former resident of Tinley Park and has served, or is currently serving, in any branch of the service or is affiliated with any Village veteran organization. Banners honor local veterans by featuring their likeness, name, branch of the military and years of service. Banners cost $150 each and will be displayed in Veterans Plaza and along Veterans Parkway annually from Memorial Day to Veterans Day. Applications will be due every year on April 15. Banners will be 30 inches wide and 60 inches tall, printed on both sides. Read the Veterans Banner Program Application for submission guidelines or to order a banner for the veteran in your life. Applications are available at Village Hall, V.F.W. Post 2791 and American Legion Post 615.
The Village of Tinley Park and the Tinley Park Veterans Commission host the annual Veterans Day Ceremony every November at the Gen. Patrick E. Rea Veterans Plaza. Honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who were willing to in service of the United States. The ceremony includes patriotic music, short speeches and a gun salute.
The General Patrick E. Rea Veterans Plaza honors veterans from each branch of the military and sits adjacent to the south entrance of the 80th Avenue Metra train station, 18001 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park.
The plaza consists of 523 brick pavers honoring the memories of individual service people; seven pavers in honor of specific groups; and five benches purchased by local veterans’ organizations.
The plaza is named in honor of Brigadier General Patrick E. Rea, also former Village Clerk for Tinley Park. Rea, who passed away in 2024, was a Tinley Park native with a long and distinguished career of professional achievements and dedicated public service. He was commissioned from the University of Illinois ROTC in 1963 and was deployed to Vietnam shortly thereafter. He began his corporate and governmental career in the late 1960s, becoming a Village of Tinley Park commissioner in 1968 while serving in the active and reserve forces of the United States Army.
Rea served as an Assistant Division Commander and Acting Commander of the 85th Division, commanding at every level from platoon to brigade throughout his 30 years of military service. Having served throughout the United States, Asia and Europe, Rea received the 2004 Secretary of Defense Medal of Outstanding Public Service Award.
Rea became a Village Trustee in 1971 and served as Village Clerk from 2009 to 2017, during which time his leadership and foresight enabled the Village to maintain economic diversity and a sound fiscal position during the largest growth period in the Village’s history. He was an advocate and supporter of veterans and is credited with the creation of the Village’s Veteran’s Commission in 1974.
Nearby Veterans Plaza sits the Illinois Veterans of America Memorial and the M84 Mortar Carrier display (pictured below).
The plaza consists of 523 brick pavers honoring the memories of individual service people; seven pavers in honor of specific groups; and five benches purchased by local veterans’ organizations.
The plaza is named in honor of Brigadier General Patrick E. Rea, also former Village Clerk for Tinley Park. Rea, who passed away in 2024, was a Tinley Park native with a long and distinguished career of professional achievements and dedicated public service. He was commissioned from the University of Illinois ROTC in 1963 and was deployed to Vietnam shortly thereafter. He began his corporate and governmental career in the late 1960s, becoming a Village of Tinley Park commissioner in 1968 while serving in the active and reserve forces of the United States Army.
Rea served as an Assistant Division Commander and Acting Commander of the 85th Division, commanding at every level from platoon to brigade throughout his 30 years of military service. Having served throughout the United States, Asia and Europe, Rea received the 2004 Secretary of Defense Medal of Outstanding Public Service Award.
Rea became a Village Trustee in 1971 and served as Village Clerk from 2009 to 2017, during which time his leadership and foresight enabled the Village to maintain economic diversity and a sound fiscal position during the largest growth period in the Village’s history. He was an advocate and supporter of veterans and is credited with the creation of the Village’s Veteran’s Commission in 1974.
Nearby Veterans Plaza sits the Illinois Veterans of America Memorial and the M84 Mortar Carrier display (pictured below).
The Veterans Commission annually honors individuals who have distinguished themselves by volunteering their time to help veterans, and by promoting the ideals of patriotism for which those veterans fought. This award ceremony takes place in conjunction with the Veterans Day Ceremony.
Tinley Park students in ninth through 12th grades have an opportunity each year to participate in a contest that tests their writing abilities and patriotism. This program is sponsored by the V.F.W. National Organization, and each annual winner receives a $25,000 scholarship. The Veterans Commission offers support and funding on the local level.