95-Year-Old World War II Veteran Gets Surprise Parade On Birthday

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — The Village of Evergreen Park may have had to cancel its Independence Day parade, but it more than made up for it when a caravan of dozens of vehicles paid tribute to a long-time resident and World War II veteran on his 95th birthday.

Frank Brzeczk knew his kids were cooking up something on Saturday, but thought it would be coffee and cake, not a noisy parade past his house.

Mayor Jim Sexton issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 10 “Frank Brzeczk Day.”

Frank’s daughter whisked him away in the morning to visit the grave site of his beloved wife Connie, who died in 2015, at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, while his children decorated the front yard. Frank entered through the back door unaware of the surprise being prepared for him on the front lawn.

Only when Honor Flight Chicago arrived to put a sign in the front yard did Frank realize that his 95th birthday celebration would be more than coffee and cake with his six surviving children.

Trustees Mark Marzullo and James McQuillan, were on hand to wish Frank a happy birthday and give him a new World War II veterans cap.

“He never hesitated to defend our country,” Marzullo said. “He’s a member of the greatest generation.”

Frank grew up on Chicago’s South Side. He dropped out of school in seventh grade to help support his 11 brothers and sisters. He enlisted in the Army in 1944, where his brothers Joseph, Casmier, John, Leo and Stanley were already serving in the Armed Forces.

Landing in Marseilles, France, in October 1944 a month after his 18th birthday, he saw heavy action fighting in France, Germany and Austria. He was ready to ship out for what would have been the invasion of Japan when the war ended.

His brothers Chester and Theodre fought in Korea. Frank is the last surviving brother. His son, Frank Jr., who died in 2017, served in Vietnam.

Evergreen Park’s police and fire departments streamed past his house, along with the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club. The Veterans Garage brought out some World War II Army vehicles, that Frank drove and fixed as a young soldier.

After partying with his family, Frank went to the delayed birthday celebration of his old softball teammate, Gene, who was turning 88. Frank was the hit of Gene’s party where he was greeted as a celebrity, thanks to a Facebook Live video of the celebration viewed by over 6,700 people.

“It was quite a day, he’s so excited. He kept saying, ‘I can’t believe my kids did that,’” his daughter Judy Gale told Patch. “He smiled all day long, with all the adversity he’s had to go through with 12 kids and his own seven children.”

Neighbors also poured out to watch the parade and wish Frank a happy birthday, who all described him as a great neighbor. Frank and Connie once took in six neighbor children for six months after their house burned down until their father, a single dad, could get back on his feet.

“I thought World War II was a story to remember, something like this at my age, I never thought I’d be around to enjoy it,” Frank said.

One person was missing from the special celebration: his wife, Connie.

“I talk to her every night before I go to bed at night,” he said. "She was beautiful."

Watch the parade and tribute