New Plaza At O'Hare Honors Those Who Served
Plaza Will Be Seen By All Entering, Exiting Drivers
CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM) - Officials have unveiled a plaza honoring those in the armed services at O'Hare International Airport.
The newly constructed plaza at O'Hare is located in the center media of Interstate 190 between the inbound and outbound lanes.
As WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, the plaza is composed of a walled concrete oval with nine flags, including the American flag and others representing the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore Reports
Podcast
The plaza was dedicated with some veterans of World War II present.
At the dedication ceremony for the plaza, Mayor Richard M. Daley said the plaza is a symbol "to remind us as a nation that we have a responsibility and an obligation to thank them and do everything possible for them, as they're in harm's way as they come back to America."
Given that it's located in a highway median, Mayor Daley acknowledges the plaza isn't meant to be visited, but just passed by.
"You drive this way going out, you drive this way coming in, and you remind yourself," the mayor said, "and that's what it is. You remind yourself of all those who participated in the Armed Forces."
The airport is named after aviator and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare, a medal of honor recipient who died in World War II.
(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS Radio and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
