Gratitude permeated Orland Park's Village Center during this year's Memorial Day Ceremony.

On the heels of Osama bin Laden's killing, dozens of veterans, family members, friends and supporters all gathered to express their appreciation for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

Members of the American Legion Orland Memorial Post 11 and the Orland-Palos Reber-Tesmond VFW Memorial Post 2604 served as color guard, along with bagpiper Mike Cotiguala, a veteran from the Vietnam War who serves with the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetary Memorial Squad.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin quoted Rudyard Kipling, and Pastor Walter Ledogar encouraged attendees to help all who were grieving, including people in Missouri. U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D- IL) reminded people to support soldiers still returning home, especially when many struggle to find work. 

The following veterans' names were added to the Ara Pace Veterans Memorial at Orland Park's Village Center for this year's Memorial Day:

• Joseph L. Clark
• Robert Duda
• Ronald J. Stepansky
• John Casimir Zank
• Matthew Alan Webber
• Joseph J. McHale
• William P. Sloan
• Lee G. Mix
• Michael D. Triezenberg
• Edmond C. Nagel