Palos Hills Honors, Thanks Hometown Soldier

At last week's City Council Meeting, Palos Hills officials honored resident and U.S. Army Sergeant Robert Christensen, also wishing him a safe completion of his tour of duty in Afghanistan.

“It's an honor and a privilege to present you with this award,” said Mayor Gerald Bennett. “[Christensen] has lived in Palos Hills since he was a kid and went to Stagg – you don't get more homegrown than him.”

A number of friends and family, including his wife and children, filled the audience for Christensen's award presentation. Another Palos Hills resident, Sig Olewinski, also created a model of a bald eagle for the soldier.

Christensen was presented with an award from the city thanking and “honoring him for bravery and courage."

He left Palos Hills for Afghanistan on April 6 to complete his tour.

Christensen joined the Army in 2007.

“I was finishing up a contract at Vanderbilt University and was on career builder,” he said after the meeting. “A pop up for the army came up and I clicked it, just to get it out of they way, but the next day a recruiter called and I decided to go see what they had to say.”

He said he is very happy with the decision to join the military and “wish I had made that decision earlier.”

Christensen said it was a “great honor” to be recognized by the City Council.

“We are very proud of Christensen and wait for his safe return,” Bennett said.