Hundreds participate in Veterans Day events throughout DeKalb County

From school assemblies to group breakfasts, public ceremonies to 21-gun salutes, Veterans Day events permeated all facets of society in DeKalb County on Wednesday.For many local veterans, this year’s remembrances began with a free breakfast at Hy-Vee, 2700 DeKalb Ave., in Sycamore, where hundreds of veterans gathered. Gus Guevara, an 8-year Navy veteran who has worked at the Sycamore Hy-Vee for the past 12 years, said he thinks the annual event – put on at all of Hy-Vee’s more than 200 grocery stores – is incredible. “I see the other side of it, the investment that Hy-Vee has is incredible,” Guevara said. “They are very generous to the public, and it shows. I enjoy my job here, and they treat veterans like me well.” Christina Nelson, assistant manager of perishables at Hy-Vee Sycamore, said she’s sure the 2026 breakfast broke the store’s Veterans Day event attendance record. “Just to give back to our community, our veterans, it means the absolute world to us, and to Hy-Vee,” Nelson sai