Veterans Day 2025
We are here to honor the many veterans that have served our country.
All of them, and their families, have sacrificed much to provide us with the safety & freedom that we have today.
These are just a few of those brave individuals.
Specialist Celina Sanchez
Alumni of Rosemont Elementary School
Military Branch: ARMY
Years served: 6 (still active duty)
Job/MOS: CBRN
Places/Campaigns served: Domestic Duty Stations
Lucas Baghdassarian
Son of Rosemont IT Coordinator Ray Baghdassarian
Military Branch: ARMY
Years served: Recently graduated
Basic Training (still active duty)
Job/MOS: 11B (Infantryman)
Places/Campaigns served: Attending AIT (Advanced Individual Training)
Lucas is center.
Sergeant Masam Rooshanfekr
Father of Ariya and Anthony Rooshanfekr
Military Branch: ARMY
Years served: 8 years
Job/MOS: 13F Forward Observer
Places/Campaigns served: Ft. Benning GA. / Deployed to Iraq - Operation
Iraqi Freedom (OIF; 2003) & OIF III; 2004)
Technical Sergeant Michael Miedona
Father of Stella Miedona
Military Branch: AIR FORCE
Years served: 24 years
Job/MOS: Liaison
Places/Campaigns served: Texas, Germany, North Carolina, Iraq, Operation
Iraqi Freedom
Command Sergeant Major David Binning�Friend of Mr. Jonak
Military Branch: Army / Illinois National Guard
Years served: 23
Job/MOS: Field Artillery
Places/Campaigns served: Afghanistan, Germany, Colorado
Robert Breen�Father of Mrs. Dermody
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 4 years
Job/MOS: San Diego, California
Places/Campaigns served:
Sergeant Joseph Donnelly�Father of Finnigan Donnelly
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 2005-2010
Job/MOS: Sergeant
Places/Campaigns served: Iraq
MICHAEL PATRICK WALSH
Grandfather of Brandon & Brittney Knauss
Military Branch: ARMY
Years served: 4 years
Job/MOS: MILITARY POLICE
Places/Campaigns served: FORT BENNING, GA - FOR POLK, LA
Jaime F Cajigas lll
Father of J.C. Cajigas
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 8 years
Job/MOS: Gunners Mate
Places/Campaigns served: Virginia, Washington state
Michael Hirschberg
Father of Mia Hirschberg
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 4 years
Job/MOS: Aviation Air Technician
Places/Campaigns served: Pensacola Florida, Miramar California, Colorado
Julio Alvarado
Father of Giuliana Alvarado
Military Branch: United States Marine Corps
Years served: 6 years
Job/MOS: Field Radio Operator- Tactical Air Control Party
Places/Campaigns served: Operation Iraqi Freedom-II
Colonel Tom Jonak�(Uncle of Mr. Jonak)
Military Branch: Air Force
Years served: 28
Job/MOS: Research & Development
Places/Campaigns served: Wright-Patterson AFB, Air Force Academy, University of Colorado
William Otte
Grandfather of Mrs. Sarno
Military Branch: Army
Years served: Unknown
Job/MOS: Truck Driver
Places/Campaigns served: Germany
George R. Batt
Father of Mrs. Guzaldo
Military Branch: Marines
Years served: 3 years
Job/MOS: Kept the vehicle pool a safe distance from the front line.
Places/Campaigns served: Korean War
John Kovalcik
Military Branch: Marine Corps
Years served: 5 years
Job/MOS: Combat Intelligence
Places/Campaigns served: Norfolk, Virginia & SanDiego, California
Sergeant Randy Kester
Husband of Mrs. Kester
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 6 years
Job/MOS: Infantry 11B
Places/Campaigns served: Fort Benning, Georgia, Hohenfels, Germany, Fort
Polk, Louisiana,
Thomas Hart Berry
Son-in-law of Mrs. Kovalcik
Military Branch: Marine Corps
Years served: 14 years
Job/MOS: Helicopter Mechanic
Places/Campaigns served: San Diego, California, Pensacola, Florida &
Wilmington, North Carolina
Lance Corporal Rocco Cardillo
Military Branch: Marines
Years served: 4
Job/MOS: Active Combat
Places/Campaigns served: Vietnam, Panama
William (Bill) Gilhooly
Husband of Mrs. Gilhooly
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 3 years
Job/MOS: 95 Bravo, Military Police
Places/Campaigns served: Fort Monroe, VA and Pan Mun Jom, South Korea
James Williams
Mrs. Sullivan’s Father
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 1968-1970
Job/MOS: Active Combat, Heavy Machines Mechanic
Places/Campaigns served: Vietnam
Tim Carson
Uncle of Carson Harvey
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 11, Presently Active
Job/MOS: Data Analyst
Places/Campaigns served: Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring
Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve
Katie Marie Grisko
Sister of Mrs. Rhodes, Sister-in-law to Mr. Rhodes
Military Branch: Air Force
Years served: 6
Job/MOS: Critical Care Registered Nurse
Places/Campaigns served: Joint Base Fort Sam Houston. Saudi Arabia
Major Eliseo Manuel Betancourt
Brother-in-law to Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 10 years
Job/MOS: Critical Care Registered Nurse Educator/HRC Career Manager/ICU Field Nurse
Places/Campaigns served: Walter Reed Medical Center / Joint Base Fort Sam
Houston / Fort Knox, KY / Fort Carson, CO
Terry J. Bresnen
Grandfather of Parker and Max Bresnen
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 4 years
Job/MOS: Radio Tech
Places/Campaigns served: Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong,
Vietnam War
Keith Christenson
Father of Mrs. Tondola
Military Branch: Marines
Years served: 3 years
Job/MOS: 0331 MOS - Weapons Specialist - Machine Gunner
Places/Campaigns served: Vietnam
Robert W. Lange
Great Grandfather of Fiona Monaco
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 4 years
Job/MOS: Medium Tank Crewman/Driver and Mechanic
Places/Campaigns served: WWII, 3rd armored division as a tank commander
under army general George Patton. Served during World War Two during the European engagement at Normandy.
Sergeant First Class John K Jonak�Superintendent of Rosemont Elementary School
Military Branch: Army / Illinois National Guard
Years served: 20
Job/MOS: Cannoneer, Fire Direction Specialist, Military Policeman
Places/Campaigns served: Afghanistan, Korea, Japan, Germany, Hawaii, Kuwait, Colorado, Hurricane Katrina Relief, Hurricane Iniki Relief,
Operation Vigilant Guard 2010
Natasha Shereece Coleman
Relative of Ijeoma Conley
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 22 years
Job/MOS: Operations Specialist
Places/Campaigns served: Norfolk, Virginia - Chicago, Illinois - San Diego,
California
Kenyatta Snulligan
Mother of Saige Snulligan
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 17 ½ years
Job/MOS: Carpenter, Masonry, and Officer Engineer
Places/Campaigns served: South Korea
Deion Snulligan
Father of Saige Snulligan
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 9 years
Job/MOS: Light Wheel Mechanic, Small Engine Mechanic, Heavy Wheel Mechanic, Earth
Moving Diesel Mechanic
Places/Campaigns served: Honduras, Cairo, Egypt
Edward Charles Brosch
Grandfather of Noah Brosch
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 4 years
Job/MOS: Helicopter pilot
Places/Campaigns served: Vietnam
Carl Fiorito
Great Grandfather of Luca and Jimmy Fiorito
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 4 years
Job/MOS: Cook, Supply Ship Gigger
Places/Campaigns served: Pacific Theater, World War II
Muzio Ficarella
Grandfather of Ariya and Anthony Rooshanfekr
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 4 years
Job/MOS: Culinary Specialist
Places/Campaigns served: Vietnam
SGT Joseph Arthur Wilson
Military Branch: U.S. Air Force
Years served: 1963-1967 Active and 1967-1969 Inactive Reserve
Job/MOS: Jet Engine Mechanic
Places/Campaigns served: Kincheloe A.F.B., Kinross, MI
Major Justin Kramer�Friend of Mr. Jonak
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 16
Job/MOS: Field Artillery
Places/Campaigns served: Afghanistan
Specialist 4th Class Oscar Carl Soergel�Mrs. Ganir’s Father
Military Branch: Army National Guard of Illinois
Years served: 1965-1970
Job/MOS: Supply Handler
Places/Campaigns served: Hq & Hq Battery 4th Infantry Division Fort
Lewis Washington, Company C 108th Support Battalion, Chicago, IL.
Don Moran
Supporter of Rosemont School
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 24 years
Job/MOS: Administration
Places/Campaigns served: Japan
Christopher Cruz
Alumni of Rosemont Elementary School
Military Branch: Marines
Years served: 4 years (Presently Active)
Job/MOS: Small Arms Repair Technician
Places/Campaigns served: San Diego
Corporal Kyle Eldridge
Colton and Brock Walker’s Uncle
Military Branch: Marine Corps
Years served: Six Years
Job/MOS: Heavy Equipment Mechanic / deployed as Provisional
Security Force
Places/Campaigns served: Djibouti, Africa
Ngozi Catherine Okafor-Smith
Aunt of Ijeoma Conley
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 5 years
Job/MOS: Supply Specialist
Places/Campaigns served: Fayetteville, Germany
Danny Ortiz
Father of Daniella Ortiz
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 6 years
Job/MOS: Plane Captain, Legal Secretary
Places/Campaigns served: Miramar, Virginia, Greek Lakes
Arthur N. Sica
Grandfather of Joey Lombardi
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: June 17, 1942 - March 19, 1945
Job/MOS: Motor Machinist’s Mate Third Class V-6
Places/Campaigns served: WWII, African Campaign, D-Day,
Invasion of S. France
Ida A. Pawlowicz
Mrs. Ganir’s Aunt
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 2006-2015
Job/MOS: 68W-Combat Medic
Places/Campaigns served: Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom 2008-2009
Arnold Pawlowicz
Mrs. Ganir’s Uncle
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 1977-1981
Job/MOS: Aviation Machinist's Mate (AD)
Places/Campaigns served: East Coast Florida, West Coast San Diego
SGT Kraig D. Foyteck
Friend of Mrs. Ganir
Military Branch: Army
Years served: 2003-2006
Job/MOS: A 1/172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
Places/Campaigns served: Baghdad, awarded Purple Heart in
2005. Stationed in Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. Died from injuries
sustained in combat.
Sergeant Nicholas Cimmarusti
Mrs. Ganir’s brother-in-law
Military Branch: Marine Corps
Years served: 2002-2006
Job/MOS: 0231/Intelligence Specialist
Places/Campaigns served: Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom
2004-2005
GMM Class Randall Pawlowicz
Mrs. Ganir’s Uncle
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 1980-1990
Job/MOS: Nuclear Weapons Technician
Places/Campaigns served: Cold War Sailor USS Kitty Hawk CV 63, USS
Kincaid DD965, USS Vreeland FF 1065, USS Hepburn FF 1055
Gary Chester Pawlowicz
Mrs. Ganir’s Uncle
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: January 1967-October 1970
Job/MOS: Aircraft Director, Aviation Boatswain Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger
Places/Campaigns served: Vietnam, North Korea, Capture of the USS Pueblo
Lynsey E. Pawlowicz
Mrs. Ganir’s Cousin
Military Branch: Navy
Years served: 2011-2021
Job/MOS: Aviation Support Equipment Technician (AS)
Places/Campaigns served: USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72: Operation
Enduring Freedom 2011-2014, USS John C. Stennis CVN-74: Operation Freedom's
Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Intrepid Sentinel 2018-2019
Louis Santella
Husband of Dr. Santella
Military Branch: Airforce
Years served: 1974-1978
Job/MOS: Crew Chief on KC 135 Airplane
Places/Campaigns served: Thailand, Korea, Philippines, Japan,
Guam, Greenland, Alaska, Hawaii, Goose Bay - Labrador
Thank you �for �your service