This month, I had the honor of having breakfast with 17 members of the World War II Army Rangers Club.  It was amazing. Several members were veterans of the “Battle of the Bulge” and former WWII prisoners of war. In other words, these are real heroes.

 

Being around a World War II hero is like stepping back in history. In 1944, these men were on the battlefield. The Battle of the Bulge is remembered as one of the costliest battles of World War II. More than 80,000 American servicemen were killed, maimed or captured. Some reports say the cost of American lives was upwards of 108,000. But the battle was critical to winning the war.

 

What was it like to be there? Battling fear, the bitter cold, and sleeplessness, these brave men fought for their honor and for their country. Years later, it could be easy to forget their sacrifice but we cannot.  It was a privilege to hear their first hand accounts, personal anecdotes – the things they can joke about and the things they can’t. It was one of those experiences that gives you a little push to be better than you are and to do the best you can for the people you love and care for.

 

After breakfast, the rangers even signed a Bobby Hull Black Hawks jersey for to be given up for charity at an upcoming Illinois wounded warriors event. I could not thank the rangers enough for the sacrifices they have made for our country.

 

But heroes are people too and they have some of the same concerns as everyone else.

 

We also discussed their disappointment with our current property tax system. The rangers were unhappy that their long standing senior freeze exemptions were no longer

valid unless they reapply each year. Why should they have to reapply for the exemption every year, they asked? Many of the rangers shared that they were physically impaired and found it difficult to get around. For people with physical limitation, every extra hardship is an important one. Consequently, to them, having to reapply for the senior freeze exemption each year or lose $400-$500 is an unnecessary hardship.

 

Many of these heroes subsist on a fixed month-to-month income. They do not need any undue tax burdens to make things even more difficult. It is certainly no way to treat a hero or anyone else.