Nov. 11 event also features Lt. Col. Sean Sullivan and IDVA Director Terry Prince
Bensenville, Ill. (October 21, 2024)— The Bensenville Park District announced that Major General Matthew Baker (Ret.) will speak at the annual Veterans Day Breakfast honoring U.S. Armed Forces veterans, 9 a.m. Monday, November 11, at the White Pines Golf Club, 500 W. Jefferson. Lt. Colonel Sean Sullivan (Ret.) and Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Terry Prince will also provide remarks during the program, which honors in-district veterans and their immediate families with a free breakfast.
Major General Baker served as commanding general for the 88th Readiness Division (U.S. Army Reserve), headquartered at Fort Snelling, Minn., and Fort McCoy, Wis. He assumed command on July 30, 2022, retiring in July 2024. He was previously the commander of the 416th Theater Engineer Command, Darien, Ill. Major General Baker held numerous command and staff positions throughout the United States Army Reserve, including platoon leader, executive officer and commander of the 233rd Engineer Company in Marseilles, Ill. He also served as engineer staff officer for 38th Infantry Division Detachment in Chicago; as liaison officer for 404th Rear Operations Center in Machesney Park; as intelligence officer for the 244th Army Liaison Team in Machesney Park; as a task force engineer, Task Force Mountain in Bagram, Afghanistan; and as observer controller trainer with the 85th Training Division in Fort Sheridan. Major General Baker also served as aide-de-camp, executive officer, and PSO to Major General Heine, Director of Operations, Iraq Reconstruction Management Office for Multi-National Force Iraq in Baghdad.
Sullivan, a senior partner at Del Gado Law Group, served more than 20 years of active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry officer and judge advocate, retiring honorably as a lieutenant colonel in September 2012. He was a senior prosecutor responsible for Marine Corps investigations/prosecutions into alleged violations of the Law of Armed Conflict (war crimes) in Iraq and Afghanistan (2006-2012) as well as being responsible for Marine Corps investigations/prosecutions into allegations of bribery and contracting fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan (2007-2011). He earned three Meritorious Service medals, a Legion of Merit Awarded for Service as Senior Prosecutor for U.S. Marine Corps from June 2006 through July 2012 and Combat Action Ribbon awarded for service in Iraq (September 2004-April 2005).
Director Prince joined the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs in April 2021 and leads a team of 1,200 professionals to provide beneficial services for nearly 600,000 veterans and their families across the state of Illinois. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he completed his 31-year career in 2017 as the Force Master Chief of Navy Medicine and Director of the Navy Hospital Corps. Before joining IDVA, he was the Superintendent of the Ohio Veterans Homes.
The event will also feature band and choral performances from Fenton High School, winners of the Fenton Defending Freedom Essay Contest and participation of state and local elected officials.
Although the event is free for in-district veterans and their families, pre-registration is required by Monday, November 4, at the Deer Grove Leisure Center, 1000 W. Wood Street, or by calling (630) 766-7015. Other members of the community, including non-resident veterans, are welcome to attend the breakfast for a fee of $15. Visit BvilleParks.org for more information.
