With Liberty and Justice for All, Salute to America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Veterans, the 11th annual Chicago Salute to LGBT Veterans, will be held Monday, June 30, at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. The speaker will be Lee Reinhart, once discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell, who returned to military service after the ban was lifted and who has recently returned from service in Afghanistan.
The ceremony will take place noon to 1 p.m.
The event is presented in partnership with the Chicago chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), the local chapter of a national group of LGBT military veterans that, among other initiatives, worked for the reverse of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Each year, the festivities include the performance of the national anthem, the presentation of colors, and a wreath laying ceremony.
www.averchicago.org
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PROGRAM
With Liberty and Justice for All
A Salute to America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Veterans
Monday, June 30, 2014, noon
Richard J. Daley Plaza
50 W. Washington Street
Call to Order
Larry Simpson, U.S. A., Illinois National Guard, VP/Treasurer, AVER
Presentation and Posting of Colors
Lee Reinhart, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard
National Anthem
Dean Ogren, Show Director International Mr. Leather
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence
Invocation
Rev. Wayne Bradley, Metropolitan Community Church
Mayoral Proclamation
Mona Noriega, Commissioner City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations
Introduction of Veterans on Stage
Ed Wosylus, USAF, VP/Secretary, American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER)
Remarks
Lee Reinhart, U.S. Coast Guard Radarman Second Class (E5), U.S. Navy, Logistics Specialist Second Class (E-5)
Wreathlaying Ceremony
Ed Wosylus, U.S. Air Force, American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER)
Echo Taps
Susan Jones, Lakeside Pride Marching Band
Melissa Terrell, Lakeside Pride Marching
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Contact: American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), Chicago Chapter
Jim Darby jamesdarby@aol.com 773-752-0058
Larry Simpson (Illinois Army National Guard), Lar_Simp@Hotmail.com
Jean Albright (USAF MSgt. Ret.) jean@windycitymediagroup.com
