Hines Veterans Appreciation Car Show Provided a Great Opportunity

for Our Regional Group to Say “Thanks!”

By John Emmering

Demonstrating once again that the Northern Illinois Regional Group appreciates our U.S. Military Veterans, a group of our club members joined with representatives from the Aurora Chapter of the American Legion and other guests on Saturday, September 12, in a special vintage car show for the benefit of residents of the Edward Hines Jr., Veteran’s Hospital Extended Care Center.  The event was conceived and organized by our own Joe Dispensa.

An eager group of participants met for lunch at the Wendy’s Restaurant on Roosevelt Road in Hillside sharing some interesting lunchtime conversation and anticipating the event.  As lunch ended Joe Dispensa led a procession of Ford V-8s from Wendy’s parking lot several miles east to the sprawling campus of Hines VA Hospital.

The vintage Fords lined up for display in a reserved spot near the extended care center.  Present with their cars were Ron Blum, 1940 Deluxe Fordor, Tom Buscaglia, 1951 Ford Custom Tudor, Joe & Marie Dispensa, 1950 Ford Custom Tudor, John Emmering, 1949 Ford Custom Fordor, Paul Jensen, 1932 Ford Roadster, Dan Pudelek, 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan and John Slobodnik, 1954 Ford Crestline Fordor. Two classic Chrysler New Yorker Sedans joined the array, a 1963 model driven by Marvin Byrd and a 1963 “Salon” edition driven by Ed Villock.   Also present were Ron Dopke, Frank and Phyllis Madrigali and John Judge who is currently on the mend from hip surgery.

Soon a stream of veterans, assigned to the extended care unit came out to view our cars and reminisce about some of the automobiles they owned in earlier years. Our members had the privilege of pushing veterans’ wheelchairs as they examined each car.  Each veteran was given a sticker for their coat showing which conflict they had taken part in and the name of the branch in which they served. Small flags and flag pins were also given to the veterans, as well as displayed on each exhibited car.   Hospital staff were impressed that about 20 veterans came out to enjoy the displayed vehicles topping participation in some earlier events. As the visit came to an end the participants were privileged to make the acquaintance of some special individuals and I am sure that their efforts helped brighten a military veteran patient’s day.