Heroine of World War visitor in Wilmette

Wilmette is honored this week by the visit of a heroine of the World War in the person of Madame Henri Jean Rykers, who is staying at the home of her sister, Mrs. J. B. Greiner, 631 Lake avenue. Madame Rykers, who was engaged throughout the war in relief work at a Belgian hospital in Nice, France, was one of the few workers to receive the Queen Elizabeth decoration awarded only to women. She was decorated by the Belgian Queen with the Croix Rouge, or Red Cross medal, awarded only to the few women who were actively engaged in work in Belgian hospitals. Madame Rykers went to France in 1916 and was immediately assigned to the hospital at Nice. The hospital was located in a beautiful chateau formerly the estate of Leopold II, on the shore of the Mediterranean. Madame Rykers, who is an American, for several years lived in Belgium. Her husband died in Bussels in 1913. She is expected to make her future home in Chicago where she will be engaged in settlement work. Questioned concerning he plans for the future, Madame Rykers replied laconically, "As the result of my experiences in France I shall never be satisfied to spend another idle day as long as I live. I will engage in settlement work in Chicago."