CHICAGO, IL — During the early 1920s, a monument honoring the mothers of military personnel who died serving the country during World War I was erected in the Dan Ryan Woods near 87th and Western. But over the years, the monument — which read ‘Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers’ — was neglected. It would become surrounded by invasive species, and for decades no one knew it was even there.
That changed in 2013 during a project to clear up the invasive species in that part of the forest preserve. On the southeast part of the intersection, the unknown monument was revealed.
Since then, Beverly resident Tim Noonan has made it his mission to research the history behind it in hopes of having it restored to its original state and re-dedicated at another section of the woods.
