A Local Illinois War Memorial-- Part 1

From the November 6, 2012, Riverside-Brookfield (Ill) Landmark "Forgotten Brookfield war monument once sat at 47th and Arthur" by Bob Uphues.

The last two years of World War II, there sat a war memorial in the parking lot of Mike Butkovich's Bar at 9220 47th Street.  The place still stands, but is now still in the family and called Joe's Saloon.  The spot was called Victory Corner.

Workers from the nearby McCook factories could come in for a Schlitz or two and then pay their respects to neighborhood boys in the service of their country at the memorial.

Mike Butkovich ran the bar for his father, George.  The 34-year-old father of four reported to Army basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida, which trained infantry replacements.  Mike ended up as a medic.

The war monument was built by Mike's father and Joe Saba and stood six-feet tall, had four sides and was made of wood and copper.  It sat in what is now the west parking lot of the bar. Mike's name along with those of others from the neighborhood were on it.

A Fitting Memorial.  --GreGen