Dick Duchossois, Arlington Park Chairman Emeritus, holds a flag that flew over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery during Military Appreciation Day in 2019 at the track. (Daily Herald File Photo)
There oughta be some kind of medal for living to the age of 99.
Thing is, Dick Duchossois doesn’t need artificial hardware. He’s got the real thing, as in two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.
You get such items when you command a World War II tank battalion for George Patton through five major European campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge and a sweeping Third Army drive across France.
Duchossois was badly injured and almost didn’t survive, yet he fled the hospital to fight again, because that’s what the Greatest Generation did for one another.
The Chairman Emeritus of Arlington Park once told me he never thought he’d live through a war that ended in 1945, so the last 75 years have pretty much been gravy, battles with cancer and heart disease simply postholes in a John Ford, Hollywood-style journey.
The big family and big businesses, billions earned, invested and donated, and of course his pride and joy, Arlington Park.
It would only be fitting if the Local Oval — which in a surprise will have racing next summer in its 94th year — makes it to the end of the 2021 meet on Sept. 25, and hosts one heck of a 100th birthday party 12 days ahead of the big one.
Duchossois turns 99 Wednesday and social distancing being the order of the day, there will be a surprise for him this time as 99 personal, police, fire and public works vehicles from local municipalities will parade past his Barrington Hills home in tribute.
Read more here. Happy Birthday!
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