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Lake Forest commission hears update on veterans recognition programs
Summary
Commissioners received a briefing on the city’s wreath, banner and clubhouse recognition programs for veterans and learned the city council approved funding for a veterans brick program.
Vice Chair Margie Lancaster opened the Community Service Commission meeting on June 4, 2025, and staff gave an update on Lake Forest’s veterans recognition activities, including wreath placements, a hometown heroes banner program and a newly funded brick program at Veterans Park.
The presentation was given by recreation staff member Vicki Blevin. “I’m gonna give you a short presentation tonight on all the recognition that we do for our Lake Forest veterans,” Blevin told the commission, describing wreath placements at Veterans Park (formerly Village Pond Park), an annual veterans event at the clubhouse and the hometown heroes banner program that places banners along Civic Center Drive each Memorial Day.
Blevin said the clubhouse veterans event draws about 20 to 25 people and typically includes flags brought by the American Legion, time for veterans and their family members to share service stories, and a display of photographs. The banner program began around 2019 and, Blevin said, often leads to family-led surprise ceremonies when returning service members see their banner.
Commissioners also heard that the city council approved funding for a veterans brick program in the city’s recently adopted fiscal-year budget. Deputy Senior Manager McGovern told the commission the council’s budget action included the brick program and gave staff the go-ahead to move forward. Blevin said the bricks would be sold to families, then laid along a walkway at Veterans Park during a scheduled installation period.
The commission asked clarifying questions about eligibility for honors under the hometown heroes program. Blevin said honorees must have “a connection to Lake Forest”: typically the veteran is a current resident or has an immediate family member who lives in the city. Commissioners noted related recognitions donated to nearby memorials; Blevin said the city provides a wreath each Memorial Day for the ceremony at El Toro Memorial Park and that city representatives frequently attend that event.
No formal action was taken by the commission on the presentation. Staff said they would return with a report in August about additional program details, including a separate report from Public Works about a proposed brick installation at Veterans Park.
