05/25/2026
On this Memorial Day we especially remember all the West Chicagoan who gave their lives in service to our country, including Elmer Hayward.
During World War I, many fundraising efforts took place in town to support our local troops abroad. Raffle tickets were sold to win a Red Cross Quilt made by local women. As a result of the $100 raised from the quilt, 68 West Chicago soldiers received a Christmas bag of “goodies” from the Red Cross in 1918. Corporal Elmer Hayward was among that number, but he never received his bag or the Christmas box from his family.
On November 10, 1918, the day before the war ended, on a battleground in France, Elmer was wounded. He died 13 days later, and his personal effects were mailed back to his family. His sister Carrie wrote in her diary on April 28, 1919, “Got Xmas Box back we sent to Elmer, pretty well damaged up.”
That very Red Cross Quilt that was made to raise funds for WWI soldiers is now part of the West Chicago City Museum’s collection, and is pictured here as part of a 2023 exhibit.
