Decalogue leads a host of bar groups in May 24 Salute to Veterans in the Legal Profession

The Decalogue Society, in conjunction with some 37 other bar groups and judges' associations, will host a Salute to Veterans in the Legal Profession on Wednesday, May 24, starting at 5:30 p.m., at the Theater on the Lake, 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive. Valet parking will be available.

Admission is free for all veterans and active and retired military. All veterans, active military and reservists are encouraged to attend in military dress.

Civilian tickets are $100 each ($90 for Decalogue members). Registration for this event is mandatory. To register, click here.

Those are the bare facts of the May 24 event. Except for the ad book rates (there will be paper and digital versions of the ad book) and the sponsorships, of course. Ad book rates are $100 for a quarter-page ad, $250 for a half-page, $500 for a full page. Ad ticket prices do not include an event ticket.

Sponsorships do come with two or more event tickets. And a host of other benefits besides (all, again, at this link). Sponsorship levels are $500 - Silver, $1,000 - Gold, Challenge Coin - $2,500, Platinum - $5,000, Presenting - $10,000. The exact benefits flowing from each sponsorship level are also set out at that link.

Again, bare facts.

But, wait a minute: Nearly 40 judges' and lawyers' groups co-hosting a single event? Such an undertaking must have been years in the planning, right?

Wrong.

Judge Megan Goldish, who is co-chairing this event along with Joel Bruckman, told FWIW that this is the first time that an event like this has been attempted, and the scope and magnitude of the event has grown exponentially as word has gotten around. None of the co-hosting groups has been asked to contribute financially, Goldish said, but merely to publicize the event to their members. As soon as anyone hears about the event, Goldish said, they volunteer to help. Goldish said she has been awed by the willingness of people coming forward, so many with inspirational stories of their own service, or a loved one's. It's been a little overwhelming, she noted, but in the best possible way.

Just two weeks out, the structure of the event is still evolving.

First, any monies raised from the event will be funnelled to five or six veterans' charities, especially those that support the Veterans Treatment Calls in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The exact list is still being determined (and may be in flux until the amount of proceeds can be finally determined), but Goldish mentioned Quilts of Valor, the Wounded Warriors Project, and National Womens Veterans United as among the possible beneficiaries. (An updated list will be inserted if time permits.)

The Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums, which, according to Judge Goldish, is donating its services for this event, will provide the color guard. The Simon Wiesenthal Center's Mobile Museum of Tolerance will be parked on the grounds for attendees to visit.

The purpose of this event is to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans in all branches of the United States Military who have also dedicated their careers within the legal profession to the pursuit of justice. The program will feature speakers who work in the legal profession, from every branch of the armed services, and pay tribute to Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American Heritage Month. The program will also honor the fallen and missing soldiers, Goldish said. There will also a 'non-sound' fireworks display, in consideration of those veterans who may have noise sensitivity caused by PTSD, and a recognition ceremony, Goldish said.

The exact list of speakers at the event is still in development, Goldish said, but among those who have agreed to speak are the following:

For the Marines
Judge Kenneth J. Wadas and Katherine Levine. Randall Tyner will serve as escort.

For the Navy
Ald. Bill Conway and Elizabeth Pennix. Brendan Curran will serve as escort.

For the Illinois Army National Guard
Judge Sheree D. Henry and law student Scout Savage. Paul Plotnick and Judge Marty Moltz will serve as escorts.

For the Army
Judge John F. Lyke, Jr. and Judge Donna Cooper. Conrad Nowak will serve as escort.

For the Air Force
Attila Bogdan, a deputy supervisor in the CCSAO, and Assistant Public Defender Patrick Shine. 41st Ward Committeeman Joe Cook will serve as escort.

Two judges will speak about the Veterans Court calls, Judge William H. Hooks and Judge Michael J. Hood. Rachel Trest, a USN Judge Advocate, will speak on behalf of military law judges. Lisa Yee, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, will also speak.

For ad book information, including ads to honor the service of a friend or family member, email joelbruckman@gmail.com. Again, to register, and for tickets or sponsorships, click here. Veterans will be given the opportunity to upload a photo of themselves in military uniform when registering.

Normally, for a post about an upcoming event, FWIW would put all the co-hosts in the lede, not wanting any co-hosts to feel slighted in any way. But the impressive list of co-hosts in this case is so long, it seems best to hold that list for the end. So, without further adieu, here is the list of co-hosts: the Advocates Society, the Alliance of Illinois Judges, the Arab American Bar Association, the Asian American Bar Association, the Asian American Judges Association of Illinois, the Black Men Lawyers Association, the Black Women Lawyers Assoc. of Chicago, the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago, the Celtic Legal Society of Chicago, the Chicago Bar Association, the Chinese American Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, the Diversity Scholarship Foundation, the Filipino American Lawyers Assoc. of Chicago, the Haitian American Lawyers Assoc. of Illinois, the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, the Illinois Judges Association, the Illinois Judicial Council, the Illinois Latino Judges Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Japanese American Bar Association, the Jewish Judges Association of Illinois, the Justinian Society of Lawyers, the Korean American Bar Assoc. of Chicago, the Lesbian and Gay Bar Assoc. of Chicago, the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago, the North Suburban Bar Association, the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, the Order of Themis, the Polish American Judges Association, the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois, the South Asian Bar Association, the South Suburban Bar Association, the Southwest Suburban Bar Association, the West Suburban Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.

My apologies in advance to any group that may have been missed. I will update if necessary.

And, finally, while those involved in planning this event certainly know this, some readers may not: Although it is occurring in May, this is not a Memorial Day event. This event honors veterans. Veterans are service members who got to come home. Memorial Day honors those service members who did not.