'Moments of sheer terror': O'Hare exhibit brings war veterans' service home

Veterans Myron Petrakis, left, and Richard Nelson unfold a flag at the opening of the American Heroes exhibit May 18, at O'Hare International Airport. Courtesy ofthe Chicago Department of Aviation

World War II Navy Radarman Martin Schwartz is among the featured portraits in the "American Heroes" exhibit that recently opened at O'Hare International Airport. Schwartz is a resident of Belmont Village Senior Living in Buffalo Grove, which commissioned the photographs. Courtesy of Belmont Village Senior Living

World War II and Korean War veteran Lillian Offen, a nurse and Navy commander, is among the featured portraits in the "American Heroes" exhibit that recently opened at O'Hare International Airport. Courtesy of Belmont Village Senior Living

World War II veteran Johnny Reid, an Army sergeant, is among the featured portraits in the "American Heroes" exhibit that recently opened at O'Hare International Airport. Courtesy of Belmont Village Senior Living

World War II U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Meiborg is among the featured portraits in the "American Heroes" exhibit that recently opened at O'Hare International Airport. Meiborg is a resident of Belmont Village Senior Living in Chicago, which commissioned the photographs. Courtesy of Belmont Village Senior Living

World War II U.S. Navy machinist Myron Petrakis is among the featured portraits in the "American Heroes" exhibit that recently opened at O'Hare International Airport. Petrakis is a resident of Belmont Village Senior Living in Carol Stream, which commissioned the photographs. Courtesy of Belmont Village Senior Living

Striking photographs of U.S. veterans coupled with their compelling narratives make for an exhibit that's hard to bypass at O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 3.

World War II was "like watching a strange movie, but you're there," is how U.S. Navy Radarman Martin Schwartz described his service in the posted narrative.

"At times it isn't exciting, and then the action part starts. Then it is more like a dream. Especially when you find out who is still alive," added Schwartz, who now lives in Buffalo Grove.

The "American Heroes: Portraits of Service" installation debuted May 18 on the L Concourse in Terminal 3.

It includes 55 photographs accompanied by storyboards and plaques where veterans, from Belmont Village Senior Living facilities, tell their stories.

"It was long periods of boredom followed by moments of sheer terror," recounted U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Meiborg of Chicago, a World War II veteran.

Navy Motor Machinist Myron Petrakis, age 101, served in World War II on the USS Murrelet.

"I'm here because of the alphabet," Petrakis told the Daily Herald. "When we finished training for the minesweepers we were assigned to the fleet by the alphabet. My friend (John) Pate, who was married with a little baby boy, was two names ahead of me.

"He was assigned to the minesweeper 371. I was assigned to minesweeper 372. When the war ended it did not end for the minesweepers because there were mines all over the world," explained Petrakis, a resident of Belmont Village in Carol Stream.

"On Dec. 28, 1946, the 371 hit a mine ... 31 of my friends were lost. They never found my friend Pate."

Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee at the May 18 dedication encouraged "all Chicagoans traveling through the holiday weekend or in the months and years ahead to take a moment and view and read the stories, take in the faces of the American heroes who lived to old age and forever carry the memory of their friends who didn't make it home."

The department has another American Heroes exhibit that opened in November at Midway International Airport in the pedestrian walkway between the CTA Orange Line Station and the terminal.

The displays originated 15 years ago when Belmont officials commissioned photographer Thomas Sanders to take portraits of service members in a Los Angeles residence.

"We were so inspired by the portraits and stories, we decided to work with him to build (them) into our company culture since 2008," Belmont Chief Marketing Officer Carlene Motto said.

Now more than 1,000 photographs grace the walls of Belmont facilities across the U.S.

Whether it's a World War II or Vietnam veteran, residents eagerly collaborate. Sanders often uses uniforms or other memorabilia in the images. Even if it's been stored for years, "they know where their services pins are, where their hat is, where their uniform is."

Engaging in the project has also allowed some veterans to talk about their war experiences with their grown children for the first time, she said.

About 75% of the portraits feature World War II veterans, and the remainder are people who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars or in peacetime.

At this month's unveiling, Motto said "an American Airlines pilot walked by and stayed for the ceremony. He didn't have a dry eye at the end."

Friday at Belmont Village in Carol Stream, Petrakis and his friend Richard Nelson, who was a corporal in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, discussed being in the exhibit.

"I'm proud, oh so proud to have my picture on the wall at the airport, because my family and friends and acquaintances as they travel ... will see those pictures and they'll remember me." said Nelson, 90.

"It's a good feeling," Petrakis said. And, "it's a sad feeling because so many were lost."

Not sure if your kid's car seat is installed correctly? The Illinois tollway and Illinois State Police are holding six events where experts can advise and help, plus provide identification cards for children. Upcoming free Kids Identification and Safety Seat days are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 3, at the Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview, and on July 8. at the Fox Valley Park District in Aurora. To learn more, go to illinoistollway.com/about/state-police.

Expect some traffic angst in Schaumburg starting Tuesday when IDOT begins cleaning and painting the bridge that carries I-290/Route 53 over Golf Road. Lanes on Golf will be reduced to two in each direction with work expected to finish in late July.