New Lenox Becomes First Community to Adopt “Tribute to Valor” Resolution

Village of New Lenox Meeting | Nov. 24, 2025

Article Summary: The Village of New Lenox formally partnered with the Tribute to Valor Foundation, an organization connecting Medal of Honor recipients with students.

Resolution Key Points:

• First Adopter: New Lenox is the first community to formally adopt the resolution supporting the foundation.

• Mission: The 501(c)(3) organization connects veterans and Medal of Honor recipients with students to teach six core values: courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment.

• Legislative Support: The Illinois Senate and House are expected to consider similar resolutions in January.

NEW LENOX, Ill. – The New Lenox Village Board on Monday, November 24, 2025, unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Tribute to Valor Foundation, becoming the first municipality to do so.

Mayor Tim Baldermann, who serves on the foundation’s board, introduced the item. The organization focuses on answering the question “Who am I?” for students by connecting them with veterans who exemplify overcoming adversity.

“We would be the first community to support this,” Baldermann said. He noted that veterans such as Israel Del Toro and Gary Linfoot—who was paralyzed in a helicopter crash—have already spoken to students in the Lincoln-Way and New Lenox 122 school districts through the program.

“They talked to kids about no matter how dark things have gotten… how they’ve overcome that adversity,” Baldermann said.

The resolution is a nonpartisan show of support for the organization’s mission to influence youth through the values of the Medal of Honor.