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Little Flower Church and School will honor Montalbano on Veterans Day

The State Journal-Register - 11/9/2020

Nov. 9--Sam Montalbano, a well-known community volunteer and former Sangamon County Board member, will be honored Wednesday -- Veterans Day -- with dedication of a flag pole in his name outside Little Flower Catholic Church and School.

"He's been a really involved member of the parish, an usher at the church for 50 years," said Bill Moredock, principal of the school, which has students from pre-school through 8th grade. "He's just done so many things."

Tom Madonia Jr., president of the Little Flower Men's Club, said the brief ceremony to honor Montalbano will be at 1:30 p.m. It is open to the public, but people should wear masks and keep adequate distance from other people.

Montalbano, 91, is a Korean War veteran. He served on the Sangamon County Board for 26 years. Veterans are central to much of his volunteer work, with groups including Italian American War Veterans, the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, and the Sangamon County Interveterans Burial Detail. He also, in recent years, resurrected Springfield'sVeterans Day parade, though it was canceled to due to weather last year, and is not being held this year due to COVID-19.

Montalbano has been part of the burial detail for more than 20 years, helping provide military honor guards for veterans. Other work has involved the Friend-In-Deed program and the Thanskgiving Day walk in the park to support St. Martin de Porres Center in Springfield.

At Little Flower, he's been president of the Lay Council, the Mens Club and a leader of the Boy Scout troop. He's also chaired the pancake and sausage breakfast at the church and organized breakfast with Santa Claus for parish children.

Madonia said the Men's Club paid for installation of a third flag poll on on the south side of the church and school. Donations in memory of Montalbano's wife, Carole, and 63-year-old son, Terry, both of whom died this year, will be taken at the event to benefit the honor flight program. That program provides one-day trips to Washington, D.C., giving veterans the chance to see national memorials.

A plaque will feature a picture of Montalbano and will have a "short and simple" message, Madonia said. It will identify him as "father, husband, volunteer, hero."

Montalbano said Monday he appreciates the recognition, but indicated it's not something he sought.

"I'm surprised because volunteer work is volunteer," Montalbano said. "You don't really expect anything. When people do these things for you, it makes me feel kind of funny."

Montalbano was a finalist for The State Journal-Register's 2019 First Citizen Award.

Radio talk-show host Sam Madonia -- Tom Jr.'s uncle -- will emcee Wednesday's ceremony, and Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder is among scheduled speakers.

Contact Bernard Schoenburg: Bernard.schoenburg@sj-r.com, 788-1540, twitter.com/bschoenburg

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