Leo Penkala, commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars DuPage Memorial Post 2164, says concerned residents may want to speak out on library events. | Courtesy Photo
Leo Penkala, commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars DuPage Memorial Post 2164, says concerned residents may want to speak out on library events. | Courtesy Photo
Leo Penkala, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars DuPage Memorial Post 2164, said Glen Ellyn Public Library should commemorate Veterans Day.
“I am saddened to learn that a community library funded by the tax-paying residents of Glen Ellyn has chosen to ignore and not celebrate the service of our nation's veterans,” Penkala told DuPage Policy Journal.
Penkala urges Glen Ellyn residents to share their opinion about the library's schedule of events if they’d like to see a change.
“While I hope the decision to not celebrate Veterans Day is not the opinion of the majority of Glen Ellyn residents, the residents should use their voice and explain to their village leaders they wish to acknowledge and celebrate our nation's veterans. If residents of Glen Ellyn wish to celebrate Veterans Day please check the communities around you,” he said.
He said while he disagrees with the Glen Ellyn Library not commemorating Veterans Day, he feels the right of the community to determine what it celebrates is integral to the freedoms he served to protect.
“As a veteran I have to also accept their right to celebrate the holidays the Glen Ellyn community feels are important to them. If celebrating and acknowledging the nation's veterans is not important to the Glen Ellyn Community that is their right,” he said. “After all, is this not what a service member is sworn to support and defend?”
“A veteran does not like seeing our nation's flag burned and disrespected, but we also know we served and fought for the right for one to express their freedoms by doing so. While the flag represents the freedoms we are given as a nation, some still choose to destroy the very symbol that gives them those freedoms, pretty ironic don’t you think?”
Penkala was previously All-American Post commander and All State Post commander.
Penkala has led the VFW post for the past 6 years. He was previously a corporal deputy sheriff with the DuPage County Sheriff's Office.
DuPage Policy Journal has reported on the library's less-traditional commemorations, including those for Diwali and Kwaanza.
The library has drawn scrutiny since it contracted with Reesheda Graham-Washington to produce racially motivated programming.
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