Archive for October, 2009
What we have accompished…..
October 28th, 2009 | 
Author: What we have accomplished::
Since the Naperville Sun ran the article honoring Jack and renaming Winding Creek Park the following has occurred::
We have a website up and running and the website had 150 hits from 5PM thru midnight yesterday — yes in just 7 hours.
We have a Facebook Page ” Remember-Jack-Hennessy” with 900+ fans since last Thursday—yes in 6 days.
We have an on-line petition that has 256 signatures that we have received in the last 24 hours.
A great start and a great thank you to all that have told their friends, neighbors and family !! We still have to keep gathering friends and names and signatures and let Naperville Park District know that this is important to us as friends and neighbors of Jack Hennessy.
We are still trying to get the word out.
You may be seeing this flyer at area businesses
If you know of any business or location that we could place signs please let me know !! Thank you everyone — we are making great progress !!!!
Thank you,
Renata Gozdziak
Posted in 
Please sign petition !!
We have our on-line petition up & running !
Please sign our on-line petition so we are able to present petition results to the Naperville Park Board. There are no guarantees that they will approve the name change, so we need to let them know that our neighborhood has not forgotten Jack Hennessy, that our neighborhood is involved and we want this change to honor Jack !!!
Thank you,
Renata Gozdziak
Jack Hennessy Memorial Park – How to Help
I have been impressed and overwhelmed by the great comments, phone messages and personal e-mails that I have received supporting the idea to rename Winding Creek Park.
The question I have heard over and over again is::
What can I do to help?
There are 3 things that would help tremendously
1.) Contact your Naperville Park Board to voice your support. Their e-mail addresses are down below.
2.) Pass the word to your friends and neighbors who are Naperville residents to help gather support for this idea.
3.) We will be requesting that all households in the Winding Creek – Maplebrook South – Maplebrook ll subdivisions fly red-white and blue ribbons in front of their homes to show their support for this idea. This will be after November 1st, so it does not interfere with Halloween decorations.
Naperville Park Board Members are ::
Suzanne Hart ,
Gerry Heide,
Ron Ory,
Mike Reilly,
Andrew Shaffner,
Marie Todd and
Kirstin Young
Emails for Park Board Members::
shart@napervilleparks.org, gheide@napervilleparks.org, rory@napervilleparks.org, mreilly@napervilleparks.org, ashaffner@napervilleparks.org, mtodd@napervilleparks.org, kyoung@napervilleparks.org
Renata Gozdziak
630-927-6669
bluzin1@aol.com
Fallen Heroes Memorial
At the July 2nd Municipal Band concert. Joe Caruso, Mitch and me.
Thanks for the info Doug, it is truly appreciated !!!
Healing Field of Honor Schedule
Healing Field of Honor / Tentative Schedule now through Nov. 15
Volunteers Needed to Assemble Flags on Poles / 2-hour shifts / 25 per shift
8-10AM and 10AM to noon, Saturdays, Oct. 17 and Oct. 31
Volunteers Needed to Set Flags on Rotary Hill / 35 per shift
Noon-2PM and 2-4PM, Friday, Nov. 6
8-10AM and 10AM-noon, Saturday, Nov. 7
Volunteers Needed to Take Down Field of Flags / 35 or more per shift
9-11AM and 11AM-2PM – Sunday, Nov. 15
To volunteer, contact Brad Wilson at (630) 848-3532 or via email at bwilson@napervilleparks.org or
Kathleen Malecki at (630) 281-1816 or via email at kmalecki@lilfriends.com.
Parking at Rotary Hill / Nov. 6 to Nov. 14
The Rotary Hill Parking Lot and driveway off Aurora Avenue will be marked with signs to designate a
limited number of 30-minute and 60-minute parking spaces as well as parking exclusively for buses and
ADA accessibility along the drive toward the Moser Tower.
Parking at Rotary Hill / Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11 to Nov. 14
Beginning Veterans’ Day, extended hourly parking and student parking will be restricted at the top of
Rotary Hill. During the exhibit from Nov. 11-14, the Rotary Hill Parking Lot and Drive off Aurora Avenue
will be marked with signs to designate only 30-minute and 60-minute limited parking. Parking places
along the drive toward the Moser Tower will be designated and exclusively for buses and ADA
accessibility.
Additional Parking / Centennial Beach Parking Lot is located at 500 W. Jackson, across the Riverwalk
foot bridge.
Weekend Parking / Space will be available at Naperville Central High School, located across from Rotary
Hill at 440 W. Aurora Ave. and at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street at Aurora Ave
2009 American Flags on Exhibit at Rotary Hill
Sunday, Nov. 8:
• Patriotic Carillon Music / 12PM, 4PM, 7PM
• Tag A Flag / 12:30PM to 3 PM ($30 for limited availability that day)
• Info Table set up at the top of Rotary Hill / by the Riverwalk Eatery
• Find Patriot Barrels to Collect Cash Donations through Nov. 14
• Refreshments / Riverwalk Eatery / (Hours TBD)
• Tours of Moser Tower (Times TBD)
Monday, Nov. 9:
• Patriotic Carillon Music / 12PM, 4PM, 7PM
• Group Tours available / Contact Jackshiffler@aol.com
• Tours of Moser Tower (Times TBD)
Tuesday, Nov. 10:
• Patriotic Carillon Music / 12PM, 4PM, 7PM
• Group Tours available / Contact Jackshiffler@aol.com
• Tours of Moser Tower (Times TBD)
• Happy 234th Birthday, U.S. Marines!
Wednesday, Nov. 11
• 11AM, Veterans Day Observance :30 Ceremony
• Municipal Band Medley
• Carillon Concert
• Refreshments / Riverwalk Eatery / (Hours TBD)
• Patriotic Carillon Music / 12PM, 4PM, 7PM
• Tours of Moser Tower (Times TBD)
Thursday, Nov. 12:
• Rotary Club of Naperville Luncheon Meeting at Riverwalk Eatery
• Patriotic Carillon Music / 12PM, 4PM, 7PM
• Tours of Moser Tower (Times TBD)
Friday, Nov. 13:
• Patriotic Carillon Music / 12PM, 4PM, 7PM
• Tours of Moser Tower (Times TBD)
Saturday, Nov. 14
• 11AM / Salute to All Veterans / Patriot Motorcycles atop Rotary Hill
• Patriotic Carillon Music / 12PM, 4PM, 7PM
• Tours of Moser Tower (Times TBD)
• 3PM / Closing Ceremonies
• 3-4:30PM / Flag Pick-up
Sunday, Nov. 15
Flag pickup will also be available on Sunday from 9AM to Noon.
All individual flag sales and supporters going forward will help fund OSOTIL to benefit a
Fisher House at the Hines VA Hospital.
Naperville to Host Healing Field of Honor
I was contacted by Dave Wentz of Naperville, he is the 2009 Chairman of Naperville’s Healing Field of Honor.
This is a fundraiser with a stated mission of helping local veteran’s causes.
BTW — Volunteers are still needed, contact Dave for more information.
The Healing Field will be at Rotary Hill from November 6-14th — The Exchange Club of Naperville will fly 2009 flags to honor the men and women of the military.
Individuals can help support this cause by purchasing a flag for $30, an additional $5.00 and the flag will be tagged with a service member or loved one who has served. If you would prefer, you can have a flag shipped for $40.
All monetary donations are accepted thru October 30th,2009.
To participate, please visit http://healingfield.org/naperville/
This is what 1500 flags looks like::
There will also be a “Tag a Flag” ceremony on Nov 8th from 12:30PM to 3PM
Veteran’s Day Observance at 11AM on November 11th, music will be played thruout the day at the Millennium Carillion.
The 11th hour is the hour of remembrance.
From Dave Wentz::
On behalf of the Naperville Healing Field of Honor Committee, I would like to thank the dedicated members of the Exchange Club, all 4 Rotary Clubs, Operation Support our Troops Illinois, the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, American Legion Post 43 and the Naperville Park District who ventured out to the Naperville Park District’s parking garage/warehouse this Saturday morning to help assemble flags for the Healing Field. We are proud to report that in four hours we were able to assemble roughly 1,500 American flags! For those of you who missed it, our next flag assembly day will take place on Saturday morning, October 31, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. where we will finish off the remaining 500 flags.
As the days draw closer to the week of Veteran’s Day you will continue to see more and more signs around town of our Healing Field of Honor. You can still purchase a full-sized flag along with an 8 foot tall flag pole for only $30. For an added $5 you can have your flag tagged in the name of a loved one who has served or is currently serving in the Armed Forces. The proceeds from the event will be used to aid the ongoing operations of a Fisher House and other local veteran’s causes.
From November 7 through November 14, the view of Rotary Hill, fully adorned in a field of 2009 American flags will take your breath away. If you would like to volunteer or find out how you can purchase a flag online, please feel free to visit our website at www.healingfield.org/naperville.
Thank you to everyone who has helped with this truly great American project. Thanks also to the American men and women in the military who continue to fight for our freedoms both at home and abroad every day.
God Bless America
Dave Wentz
2009 Naperville Healing Field of Honor Chairman
Renaming a Naperville Park
I have been impressed and overwhelmed by the great comments, phone messages and personal e-mails that I have received supporting the idea to rename Winding Creek Park.
A Question that has been asked ::
How does the park get renamed?
There is no written process or guide to follow to rename a park.
I had called several different park personnel before I ended up speaking with Ray McGury who was kind enough to explain.
As of now I have been told that the Naperville Park Board has the power to rename a park. This is a 7 member elected committee. I will be attending the November 12th park board meeting at City Hall to make a formal request to rename Winding Creek Park to honor Jack Hennessy.
Naperville Park Board Members are ::
Suzanne Hart ,
Gerry Heide,
Ron Ory,
Mike Reilly,
Andrew Shaffner,
Marie Todd and
Kirstin Young
Emails for Park Board Members::
shart@napervilleparks.org, gheide@napervilleparks.org, rory@napervilleparks.org, mreilly@napervilleparks.org, ashaffner@napervilleparks.org, mtodd@napervilleparks.org, kyoung@napervilleparks.org
Renata Gozdziak
630-927-6669
bluzin1@aol.com
Renaming Winding Creek Park
Winding Creek Park is getting a facelift. This park is bordered by Bailey Rd to the north and Redstart Rd to the south
There has been construction going on there for months now — a bike path, new ball fields, and a new playground are just a few of the improvements that are in process or have been completed. See plans here. I believe the time is right to rename our neighborhood park.
Winding Creek park is a small neighborhood park. It is primarily used by persons in the Maplebrook and Winding Creek subdivisions. There are ball games and soccer games scheduled there, but unless your child is playing a game at that location, you probably would not ever visit our neighborhood park.
Jack Hennessy grew up in our neighborhood. He died in Iraq in 2004. He was our neighbor and it would be fitting to rename the park in his honor. I am going to request that the Naperville Park Board rename Winding Creek Park to::
Jack Hennessy Memorial Park .
I would love to hear what you think about this idea.
Renata Gozdziak
Sun Article
A matter of honor
Neighbors want to rename park for local fallen soldier
October 19, 2009
Winding Creek Park in Naperville is currently undergoing a major renovation, including new trees and a bike path, baseball diamond, playground, and soccer field. But some folks in the neighborhood believe now is the time for something else besides a facelift: a new name.
With Veterans Day approaching, park neighbor Renata Gozdziak is the self-appointed point person for an initiative to name the park after one of its own. Former Naperville resident Jack Hennessy, who grew up in the neighborhood, was killed while serving in Iraq in October 2004. And Gozdziak hopes the right people will agree to rename Winding Creek Park in Hennessy’s honor.
(Jonathan Miano/Staff Photographer)
“When Jack Hennessy returned home, we held a memorial for him, and the number of people who had luminaries out in their yard was just incredible,” Gozdziak recalled. “I’m sure that the events of 9/11 affected a lot of people, and Jack felt he wanted to do something. He was killed at the age of 21, and people here were just overwhelmed. He was so friendly and so outgoing.”
In recent months, as renovations began to take place at the park, Gozdziak said she began to get an idea and decided to approach members of her local homeowners association regarding her plan.
“I talked about the renaming idea with members of the homeowners association and got a lot of positive feedback,” she said. “They gave me a number of ideas about how to go about it and who I would have to contact.”
Cindy Hennessy, Jack’s mother, said she just learned about Gozdziak’s idea a few days ago and understandably was moved by the suggestion.
“Jack died on Oct. 1, and whenever that date comes around, I think people just naturally think about him,” she said. “Jack enlisted back in August of 2001, about a month before the United States was attacked. There was no connection to his being in the military at that time with what happened, but this was something he always wanted to do.”
Cindy Hennessy said being a soldier “was his calling,” and that she and her family learned about his real accomplishments only after his death.
“There have been so many stories about him we never learned,” she said. “Jack was actually working as a sniper, and he actually became a sergeant before he was killed in a much quicker time than most people who serve in the military. He loved being a soldier.”
Gozdziak said she has a short window of time to submit an article to the homeowners’ monthly newsletter about her initiative, and her next move is to attend a park district meeting Nov. 12, where she hopes to push the envelope further.
“I’ve e-mailed some of the park district board members, and so far, I haven’t received an official response,” she said. “I figure going to a meeting so close to Veterans Day would be perfect timing. I think the feeling is that if the board agrees to rename the park, it might set a precedent. But my feeling is that this is a neighborhood park, and not a place that people all over Naperville use.”
She set up a Web site — www.remember-jack-hennessy.com — to get others on board with the park idea.
The Naperville Park District did name one of its facilities Sgt. David M. Caruso Memorial Park in the Longwood neighborhood. Caruso, a recon ranger, was killed Nov. 9, 2004, in the act of rescuing a team member while on a mission in Fallujah, Iraq.
Cindy Hennessy said a plaque with her son’s name was placed in the park not long after he died, and that regardless of how things turn out, she’ll be at peace.
“If the renaming happens, I’ll smile and I know it would mean a lot to Jack,” she said. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of support from people in the area and I personally have a strong faith. I’ll understand regardless of how this works out.”
The views expressed in these blog posts are those of the author and not of the Sun-Times News Group.
Jack T Hennessy
Sgt. Jack Taft Hennessy, age 21, born May 19, 1983 in Wheaton, IL. Moved to Naperville in 1991, where he graduated from Naperville Central H.S. in 2001. During high school Jack participated in soccer, wrestling and gymnastics. He will be remembered by his high school friends and classmates as lively and likeable. Jack had a long standing desire to join the Army. He enlisted while still in his senior year of high school. He went through Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and was stationed at Fort Hood, TX prior to deploying to Iraq in March 2004 with the 1st Cavalry Division. He was killed during a firefight in Baghdad on Oct. 1, 2004. His family will remember him as a fun loving character with a great sense of humor. They are extremely proud of his dedication to duty and his ‘can-do’ attitude. In his short 21 years, Jack lived an extremely full life. His family is blessed to have had him in their lives. Jack is survived by his parents, Bernie and Cindy Hennessy; brother, Eric Nagel; sister, Anna. He is also survived by extended family consisting of grandparents, Roy and Verva Taft, Bruce and Dori Wine, Jane and Jerry Hinrichs. In addition to grandparents, he is survived by aunts and uncles, Steve and Anne Taft, Rob and Cindy Taft, Barbara Taft Parker, Chris and Jodi Wine, Mark and Maria Wine, Todd and Elaine Wine, Sue and Carl Brodarick, Rich and Darby Zwagerman, Pete and Mary Zwagerman, Clare and Rick Sabones, Margaret Hennessy, Bill and Jan Hennessy. He is also survived by numerous cousins. Jack was preceded in death by his birth mother, Debra Taft Hennessy and grandparents Bernard and Frances Hennessy. His family is thankful for the best wishes and generous support from friends and church community during this difficult time. Visitation Monday 2 to 9 p.m. at The Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville. Everyone is asked to meet for Funeral Services on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. at Naperville Presbyterian Church, 943 Sanctuary Lane, Naperville, with Rev. Dave Schutter officiating. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ARMY Emergency Relief, Attn: Donations in memory of Sgt. Jack Hennessy, 200 Stovall St., Room 5-N-13, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600. For info, 630-355-0213.
- Please Sign Petition to rename Winding Creek Park in Naperville as the Jack Hennessy Memorial Park.
You are currently browsing the Remember Jack Hennessy blog archives for October, 2009.
The question I have heard over and over again is::
What can I do to help?
There are 3 things that would help tremendously
1.) Contact your Naperville Park Board to voice your support. Their e-mail addresses are down below.
2.) Pass the word to your friends and neighbors who are Naperville residents to help gather support for this idea.
3.) We will be requesting that all households in the Winding Creek – Maplebrook South – Maplebrook ll subdivisions fly red-white and blue ribbons in front of their homes to show their support for this idea. This will be after November 1st, so it does not interfere with Halloween decorations.
Naperville Park Board Members are ::
Suzanne Hart ,
Gerry Heide,
Ron Ory,
Mike Reilly,
Andrew Shaffner,
Marie Todd and
Kirstin Young
Emails for Park Board Members::
shart@napervilleparks.org, gheide@napervilleparks.org, rory@napervilleparks.org, mreilly@napervilleparks.org, ashaffner@napervilleparks.org, mtodd@napervilleparks.org, kyoung@napervilleparks.org
Renata Gozdziak
630-927-6669
bluzin1@aol.com