Northwest Herald / NWHerald.com • Saturday, February 23, 2013
| Everyday Heroes
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JOE ALGER
‘It’s in his blood’ ‘Big Joe’ known for giant heart, gratitude toward veterans By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com
J
oe Alger’s enormous respect for military personnel serving overseas developed from outrage. As wars in Iraq and Afghanistan intensified in the mid-2000s, more families from across the country were forced to prepare funerals for fallen soldiers, husbands and sons. A former veteran himself, Alger, of Crystal Lake, heard about Westboro Baptist Church and its effort to protest veterans’ funerals, standing feet away from somber families and brandishing hateful signs directed toward homosexuals. Known for its brazen protests, the church, based in Topeka, Kan., believes military deaths overseas are God’s way of punishing the United States for tolerating homosexuality. But Alger saw something different. “I hated the thought of people coming out and protesting in front of families,” Alger said. “That totally is a disgrace.” So he did what he does best. He rode his Harley-Davidson motorcycle across the country with a volunteer group known as the Patriot Guard Riders to shield nearly 50 military families from the Westboro Baptist protests. The group would dress their motorcycles with American flags and park their bikes in front of the protesters. Alger, who has helped operate JA Frate in Crystal Lake since the 1970s, attributes the experience for his ongoing effort to recognize and honor military veterans. From the Patriot Riders, he became involved with the Warriors’ Watch Riders, a group that organizes homecoming ceremonies for returning soldiers, and Operation Support Our Troops America, which does outreach for soldiers overseas. He also supports the Wounded Heroes Foundation, an Illinois nonprofit that provides financial assistance and resources to wounded veterans. Alger even has transformed a few JA Frate trailers into mobile homages to local fallen servicemen. He wanted to capture the community support that was on display when Marine
Josh Peckler – jpeckler@shawmedia.com
Joe Alger, chief operating officer for JA Frate in Crystal Lake, was nominated as an Everyday Hero for his work with local veterans in the community. He helps organize veteran homecomings with the Warriors’ Watch Riders and has put murals honoring fallen local soldiers on the sides of JA Frate’s trucks.
The Alger lowdown Who is he? Alger has helped to operate JA Frate in Crystal Lake since the 1970s. Wife: Married to Mary Alger for 32 years Children: Joseph, 30, and Nicholas 28 Favorite hobby when not volunteering? Motorcycle riding Favorite food? Crab legs Lance Cpl. Jonathan Collins of Crystal Lake was killed in Iraq in 2004. With permission from the family, he decorated a trailer with a picture of Collins. He has done that six other times for local servicemen killed in action. The two enshrined trailers exclusively travel across McHenry County. “People in some cases have forgotten that soldiers are still over in Afghanistan,” Alger said. “I surely
didn’t want them to forget the sacrifices these great young men have made, especially when they lived so close by.” Known to many as “Big Joe,” Alger has a gentle heart and loving character, said Alger’s neighbor, Melinda Griengl-Schott. Griengl-Schott said she nominated Alger as an Everyday Hero because of his generosity to veterans, the community and those in need.
“He works tirelessly with an abundant amount of energy to honor and support those who need it,” GrienglSchott said. “It’s not work for Big Joe, though. It’s in his blood.” Alger returned to McHenry County in 1974, after serving three years in the Army. He immediately started working for JA Frate, climbing the ranks of the Crystal Lake freight company to president in 1996. He now serves as chief operating officer for the Frate group. Alger never went overseas to fight in Vietnam, but he said people should never forget the sacrifices veterans make for the country. His son, Joseph, also served a tour in Iraq in the mid-2000s. “They are fighting for a country that is based on freedom,” Alger said. “They are fighting for the best of what we have here.”