On July 4, 1946, Flossmoor residents in our civic island listened to a story of patriotism and triumph over adversity from U.S. Army Private James Vincent Mitchell, Jr., who had spent six months as a German prisoner of war in World War II.

Question

Private Mitchell was born in Chicago in 1925 and lived at 18549 Dundee as he began his freshman year at Thornton Township High School. (Prior to the opening of Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Flossmoor students who lived west of Western Avenue attended Thornton; those on the east side of Western attended Bloom Township High School.) Private Mitchell was an active student who was involved in debate and chorus. Graduating in 1944, he joined the U.S. Army as a private in the 95th Infantry.

According to National Archives records, Private Mitchell was sent to France, wounded, and captured by the German military on November 9, 1944. Newspapers from the day reported the first five months of his imprisonment were spent in a German prison hospital. While the Allied forces were liberating Western Europe in April 1945, Private Mitchell remained a prisoner of war. His German captors forced other injured POWs and him to march to another prison camp in April, where he was held until freed in early May 1945 by American forces. He returned to his parents’ home on June 25 with a Purple Heart for his valor and service. By Independence Day 1945, he was reported to be resting at a Michigan vacation home with his parents and sister. The following year, Private Mitchell spoke at Flossmoor’s July 4 parade. The Chicago Daily Tribune of June 30, 1946, promoted the annual July 4 activities at the original veterans’ “Honor Roll,” which was located at the center island in downtown Flossmoor. A Flossmoor resident, Richard Condon, would later go on to serve the United States Army in the Korean War. Corporal Condon was 15 years old and in high school when he heard Private Mitchell speak at the July 4 festivities. Corporal Condon remembers:

During the Flossmoor children’s parade, we gathered around the island and the steps of the Illinois Central station [the site of the present-day Flossmoor Station and Brewery]. James Mitchell spoke eloquently of his time as a prisoner of war in Germany in November of 1944. Needless to say, there were many tears shed for his service to our country. You could hear a pin drop. I’ll never forget it. The Chicago Daily Tribune of June 30, 1946, promoted the annual July 4 activities at the original veterans’ “Honor Roll,” which was located at the center island in downtown Flossmoor. A Flossmoor resident, Richard Condon, would later go on to serve the United States Army in the Korean War. Corporal Condon was 15 years old and in high school when he heard Private Mitchell speak at the July 4 festivities. Corporal Condon remembers:

During the Flossmoor children’s parade, we gathered around the island and the steps of the Illinois Central station [the site of the present-day Flossmoor Station and Brewery]. James Mitchell spoke eloquently of his time as a prisoner of war in Germany in November of 1944. Needless to say, there were many tears shed for his service to our country. You could hear a pin drop. I’ll never forget it.Private Mitchell came back to Chicago and earned three degrees from the University of Chicago. He became a college professor, wrote books about how to help students learn, and was known as “Dr. Mitchell” in his profession. Dr. Mitchell died on January 22, 2018, in Asheville, North Carolina.
1. Create your own Wall of Honor. Using a poster or 3D printer to create your OWN version of the Wall of Honor. Make sure it honors the veterans of Flossmoor that we studied. It should honor veterans of the various branches of the military. It should be decorated as well.
Once done, write a report to the right that addresses the following questions. It should be 2-3 paragraphs:
Explain your overall idea.
Explain the symbolism of each part of your Wall of Honor.
Tell us what materials you would use to create the Wall of Honor & why.

Answer 1

Report on the Wall of Honor

For my Wall of Honor, I envisioned creating a visually striking and meaningful tribute to the veterans of Flossmoor, particularly focusing on the valor and service of individuals like Private James Vincent Mitchell, Jr. My overall idea is to encapsulate the spirit of patriotism and resilience that these veterans exemplified, while also providing a sense of community connection to their sacrifices. The design will feature a central panel dedicated to Private Mitchell and his story, surrounded by panels for other local veterans representing various branches of the military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. Each section will be adorned with symbolic representations, such as the different branch emblems and colors that correspond to each military service.

The symbolism of my Wall of Honor will carry deep meaning throughout its various elements. The central panel dedicated to Private Mitchell, adorned with a Purple Heart symbol, represents bravery and sacrifice. Surrounding it, distinctive branch emblems—each in their service colors—will symbolize unity and diversity within the military. For instance, the red, white, and blue colors of the Army's emblem reflect patriotism, while the eagle in the Air Force symbol represents freedom and courage. The inclusion of stars and stripes in the design of the background will signify the American flag, representing the ideals that these veterans fought to uphold. Additionally, small personal mementos like photos or medals that could have been contributed by local families would enhance the personal connection to each veteran's story.

To create the Wall of Honor, I would utilize a combination of materials to ensure durability and aesthetic appeal. I would use a sturdy wooden or foam board as the base, painted in a rich navy blue to represent the vast sky under which our veterans served. Individual panels could be made with textured cardstock, allowing for high-quality prints of each veteran’s story or imagery. For embellishments, I would choose metallic gold and silver paints for the emblems to signify honor and valor. Additionally, I would incorporate LED lighting to highlight specific sections, making the Wall of Honor visually striking and drawing attention to the sacrifices made by our veterans. This approach would not only honor their memory but also inspire younger generations who will see their stories represented in such a meaningful way.