Mayor's Breakfast for Veterans Kicks Off Patriotic Day

The rumbling of motorcycles could be heard at 8 a.m. headed towards St. John's United Church of Christ in Mokena. The riders sporting red, white and blue bandannas gave thumbs up to curious onlookers along the Mokena streets. 

As each biker came through the door, a bear hug or handshake greeted them by Mokena Mayor Joe Werner. Breakfast to the veterans was on the Mayor to veterans and immediate families.

Mayor Werner grinned from ear to ear as he introduced some of the guests.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to applaud Edward O'Malley who, served in Army Company G during World War II. Ed, who is 91 years old, joins us for breakfast today," Werner said.

The mayor's second annual free breakfast for veterans (non-vets paid $5) kicked off .

"This is the best day in the country," Werner said. "My favorite day because it celebrates and honors this country and the freedom we have. This day, 1776 had a group of 13 guys who put their name on a document, they basically sent a letter to the King of England and said we want to be a free country. In Mokena, we celebrate that by having a parade and now sharing a breakfast to the veterans, just to say thank you. What a great way to start the Fourth of July."

"The guys coming home now get treated better than what we got," O'Malley, of New Lenox, said as he shook hands with people thanking him for his WWII service. "Everybody did their best in the war. They were glad to fight and they were glad when they got out of there. Today, I'm glad to be alive."

Another World War II veteran, Will Allgood, has lived in Mokena for 43 years. This is the first year he has attended the Veteran's Breakfast.

"This is wonderful," he said. "To see all these veterans makes you feel proud. I wish everyone in this country would be a patriot. To see this wonderful group of fellows that served like I did and have caused this to be one of the greatest countries in the world."

As the breakfast ended, the veterans of all ages either jumped on their motorcycles or rode in a collection of historic military vehicles, courtesy of the Northern Illinois Chapter of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. As they pulled onto Wolf Road for the July 4 parade, thousands lined both sides of the street waving American flags. 

Mayor Werner told the veterans free breakfast next year, same day same time.

Check out "Kids, Vets and Jedi Hit Mokena for July 4 Parade: PHOTO GALLERY" to see the faces of Mokena's July 4 extravaganza

Watch "Civil and Revolutionary War Cannons Pound Mokena: VIDEO" to see some of the more explosive elements of Mokena's July 4 celebration