Sycamore Veterans Grove

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Sycamore Veterans Grove

The Sycamore Veterans Grove is an area dedicated to veterans of the Sycamore area. It is located next to the Sycamore Middle School on Route 23 in Sycamore, IL.

Each tree in the Grove is dedicated to a veteran with connections to the town of Sycamore.

06/08/2025

Big Announcement, folks!! Since we've run out of space for new trees (we hit our max of 63!), we are expanding our veteran recognitions in the form of plaques on a bench. The bench has been installed and we're ready to take dedications. Each dedication plaque will cost $200 and will include the veteran's name, branch of service and years of service. Their bio and picture will go on the website right alongside those with tree dedications. If you have a veteran with some connection to Sycamore that you would like to recognize, please go to the website and complete the form to do so. It can be found here: https://sycamoreveteransgrove.com/dedicate-a-tree/

11/09/2024

Flags are out for Veteran's Day! Take a few minutes to walk through the Grove this beautiful fall weekend to both enjoy the scenery and reflect on the sacrifices and accomplishments of our area veterans.

06/13/2024

Happy Flag Day! Fly them proud - we have a lot to be thankful for!

05/24/2024

Flags are out for Memorial Day!

05/23/2024

We wanted to give you an update regarding the " Sycamore Grove, a Tribute to Veterans."

As many of you know we are not able to add anymore trees to the Grove. We have decided to install a memorial bench that would have 24 spots on the front back that families could use to honor their veterans with a plaque. There will be information on the web site soon if anyone is interested in ordering a plaque for their veteran on the bench.

We will not have a flag day program this year, but plan to have a celebration at the Grove every 5 years. In 2025 it will be our 5th year and as a commemoration we will have the bench with new veterans recognition with a family plaque and a celebration program.

We are so grateful that all of our trees seem to be growing and healthy. As the tree trunks grow, we will attach the veterans places with spring attachments and remove the zip tie attachments, as we have with the mature trees near the front of the school.

Please watch for the American Flags that we will place at the Grove honoring Flag Day and Veterans Day.

Curt Lang and David Dosier

11/10/2023

Here's another veteran highlight from the Grove. Many of you may know this one personally!

Bob Wildenradt graduated from Sycamore High School in 1948 and spent the next four years in the U.S. Air Force.

Upon his discharge in 1952, he married his wife, Norma, and they moved to Champaign, IL, where Bob later earned an Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Illinois. Bob and Norma then moved back to Sycamore, where they’ve been ever since.

11/07/2023

FLAGS ARE OUT! Each tree in the Grove now has a small flag at the base in recognition of Veteran's Day. If you get a chance, take a nice walk on the path around the Grove and reflect on the day. Thanks to Curt and Karen Lang for putting the flags out.

11/05/2023

Another veteran highlight for the week - this is one of only the few, the proud....the Marines honored in the Grove.

Terrance C. Bunge served in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War. Being just 20 at the time, he left his family and girlfriend, Dolores, to serve his country. He was very proud to be a Marine and to serve the country that he loved. Although stationed on a battleship, Terrance says he never saw any real conflict. However, when ordered to “blow the top off that mountain”, Terrance would fire the ship’s mighty guns and “that mountain would disappear”. Upon his return from service, Terrance married Dolores and together they raised 4 amazing children: Debra, Trudy, Erin & Kevin. During their 49 years of marriage, Terrance and Dolores enjoyed many vacations in Florida alongside the ocean he loved. “Once a Marine, always a Marine” is a phrase he often repeats.

11/03/2023

As we close in on Veteran's Day, we wanted to highlight a few of the Sycamore Grove honorees. Today we're recognizing Charles Rexroat.

Charles Marion Rexroat served in the Iowa Air National Guard from 1947-1951 and entered active duty in April 1951 with the Air Force communications squadron becoming a Teletype Operator. He was stationed at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine and did his training as a communications specialist in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was discharged from active duty at the Air Force Base in Alexandria, Louisiana and returned to the Iowa Air National Guard, honorably discharged from service as Airman 1st Class in 1956. He received awards for Good Conduct and Sharpshooter.

05/10/2023

We're going to hold a Flag Day Celebration at the Sycamore Veterans Grove on Wednesday, June 14 and we hope you will join us! We will use the opportunity to commemorate our honored veterans at the Grove, too.

11/17/2022

One of the ways we had planned to celebrate Veterans Day was to hold an essay contest at Sycamore Middle School and have the winner read his or her essay at the ceremony on November 11. While the event did not occur, we still want to recognize our essay winner, Arianny Swanson. Below is her winning essay. We wish to thank her and all of our essay contestants who took the time to create and share with us.

11/08/2022

Sorry, everyone. Some events have conspired against us and our Veterans Day Ceremony has been canceled. The Grove will still have miniature flags placed at each tree - please drive by or walk through on Friday.

Address

Sycamore, IL
60178

Website

https://sycamoreveteransgrove.com/

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