ometown eroes
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ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHING 2019
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HOMETOWN HEROES
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The Walter Graham American Legion Post #332
Mayor Steve Johnson
The officials and the citizens of Machesney Park thank those who have served and are now serving our great country in the armed forces.
salutes our servicemen and servicewomen!
Remember our HOMETOWN HEROES and the impact they have in all our communities!
American Legion Post 332
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We also thank our local fire, police and all first responders for keeping us safe at home. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE!
VetsRoll 2019 edition returns home NOV. 2019
HOMETOWN HEROES
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By Doug Schroder CORRRESPONDENT
The 2019 version of VetsRoll arrived back home on Wednesday evening, May 22, amongst sporadic monsoon like downpours, after having spent the previous four days on the annual trek to Washington D.C. Ten coach busses carried a total of 375 to 400 people on the trip, with 220 of those being veterans who were able to go on the ride this year. Hundreds of friends and family members, some carrying signs, greeted the entourage when it arrived at the Eclipse Center in Beloit, WI. VetsRoll organizers had to scramble Wednesday afternoon when the weather forced some changes to the welcome home ceremony, bringing it inside the Eclipse Center, instead of outside as planned. After everyone was inside and seated, the ceremony kicked off with 2013 Auburn High School graduate Hannah Poorman singing the Star Spangled Banner. Mark Finnegan, the president of the Board of Directors for the VetsRoll organization, then took to the podium to give a brief talk about the trip. Finnegan started off by reminding the veterans to tell their stories about their time of service. He reminded the younger folk present to document those stories so that the stories would not be lost. Each year eight local high school seniors are invited to come along on the trip. “This is such an important connection because this is tomorrow’s leaders that are intermingling with yesterday’s heroes and the history of this country,” stated Finnegan. Two representatives each came from Beloit Memorial and Hononegah High Schools, while Harlem High School had four representatives on the trip. Finnegan recognized the members of his family, who are all involved in VetsRoll, before introducing Tim “Pogo” Pogorelski, who led the group in a stirring rendition of God Bless America to close the ceremony. As everyone was leaving I came upon the group from Winnebago who were able to make the trip this year. For one of them, volunteer Mary Gross, it was the fourth time for her going on the trip. When asked what was different about this trip, Gross responded. “We do the same thing every trip. What is
A contingent of five people from the village of Winnebago went on the VetsRoll trip to Washington D.C. this year. (L-R) John Traum - assistant, Bill Schmittel - Army veteran, Mary Gross - Assistant, Weiland Ackerman - Army veteran, Ralph George - Army veteran.
DOUG SCHRODER PHOTOS Hometown Heroes
new every time is seeing the reactions of the veterans. One man (a Vietnam era veteran) I was working with had said he didn’t know other veterans had been called ‘baby killer’ too. He was just a teenager when he served and it meant something to him that others had also been called that, for he never understood why he was.” For many veterans this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Washington D.C and see the memorial to the war they fought in. All expenses are paid for through the VetsRoll organization. If you are, or know, a veteran who would like to go next year, or to make a donation, go to VetsRoll.org to find out more. If you would like to go along as a volunteer, information can be found on the same website. More information can be received by calling 800-383-2267.
Assistant Kelly Brehm and Korean War Marine veteran Talmadge “Dwight” Johnson came from Missouri to go on the VetsRoll trip this year.
2013 Auburn High School graduate Hannah Poorman singing the Star Spangled Banner.
Members of the Rock County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard stood at attention as veterans entered the Eclipse Center.
Veterans Day: A celebration of service NOV. 2019
Veterans Day 2019 will be on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. As a federal holiday Veterans Day is typically observed on November 11th every year. However, if it occurs on a Sunday then the following Monday is designated as the Federal holiday, and if it occurs on a Saturday then either Saturday or Friday may be designated. When the Federal holiday and November 11th dates are different, Veterans Day activities may take place on both days; many activities are often scheduled the weekend leading up to Veterans Day even during years when both dates match. The theme for the 2019 Veterans Day Poster is: “Service” Veterans contribute to American society in many ways; not just during their time in active duty. Throughout our history, military service members have put on their uniforms to protect the values and liberties that this nation was built on. But that doesn’t stop once the uniform comes off and their time in active duty has ended. Veterans take the lessons they have learned and the experiences they’ve gained and continue their service to our nation by strengthening our communities. They become our nation’s leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs. Veterans are the most active volunteers working to improve communities across our country. Service goes beyond the uniform. This Veteran’s Day, we honor the men and women who have worn their uniform who continue to serve our country. About Veterans Day Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11th. Veterans Day evolved from Armistice Day, which was proclaimed in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson. Armistice is when warring parties agree to stop fighting; Armistice Day recognizes the end of World War One when hostilities ceased on November 11th at 11 A.M, 1918 (11th hour, of the 11th, of the 11th
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month). According to the Department of Veterans Affairs official site on November 11th, 1947 Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized a “National Veterans Day” parade in Birmingham, Alabama to recognize veterans of all wars.
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Anthem Veterans Memorial: A Unique Place to Visit on Veterans Day The Anthem Veterans Memorial has five pillars that represent the five branches of the United States military. They are staggered in size and the military seal placements on each pillar are based upon the Department of Defense prescribed precedence, ranging from the United States Army, the United States Marine Corp, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the United States Coast Guard. On Veterans Day as at precisely 11:11 a.m. on Veterans Day, November 11th, the sun’s rays will pass through each of the five pillars’ elliptical openings to illuminate a glass mosaic medallion of the Great Seal of the United States.
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This celebration may have helped influence Congress to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to recognize Veterans of all U.S. wars. Was the work of Raymond Weeks the first “official” or semi-official Veterans Day? The residents of Emporia, Kansas might disagree. According to the Emporia Conventional and Visitor Bureau official site, “In 1953 Veterans Day was organized and celebrated in Emporia, Kansas; one year prior to the first nationwide observance on November 11, 1954.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower made November 11 the official national observance of Veterans Day after Kansas Congressman Ed Rees (who was from Emporia) proposed the bill in Congress to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. The observance wasn’t always held on the 11th of the month; History.com reports that decades later in 1968, legislation known as the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by Congress, moving Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October as of 1971. This didn’t last long; in 1975 President Gerald Ford returned the observance to November 11, due at least in part to the historic nature of the date.
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Churchill’s Grove neighbors Gary Eisenhower was keynote speaker at beautify Veterans Memorial Circle POW/MIA Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony By Bruce Jacobsen The 2019 Vietnam2Now sponsored annual (24th) POW/MIA Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony took place on Sept. 20, 2019. The keynote speaker this year is US Army veteran Gary Eisenhower Sr., who was part of a 10-man team tasked to rescue downed pilots in Laos. Gary Eisenhower Gary was skilled in small weapons, communication, demolitions, sniper qualified and a “Tunnel Rat.” In Vietnam he was attached to the Fourth Infantry Division from April until December of 1967. Then he reunited with his original unit the Americal Division that arrived on Christmas Day 1967. He was an acting platoon sergeant in Delta Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade until he left Vietnam in May 1968. Gary has accomplished much in life since his return from Vietnam. He married while in the service in 1966 and he raised his family and takes pride in having spent time with his son through the entire Scouting process from Cub Scout to Eagle Scout. Gary was born in 1946 in Lena, Ill., into a farm family and attended schools there, but graduated from the Lock Haven High School in Pennsylvania. His education and skills acquisition continued through life to include some college and Army OCS, extensive training and experience in the electrical trades that established him as a nuclear electrician for 45 years and then after retirement he was hired as an electrical field engineer. Throughout life and career he has maintained civic involvement and leadership. While it often was veteran related organizations like ViêtNow and Freeport’s Allied Veterans Council that organized the “free” Allied Veterans Van Service and the annual Memorial Day parade for the past 32 years. In July 2007 after 10 years of work, the Stephenson County Veterans Assistance Commission was led into existence, and he is the incumbent President. He also found time for the Stephenson County Antique Engine Club. He has picked up some recognition over the years. In 1999 he began working with Congressman Manzullo on the gulf War Syndrome legislation passed in 2002 and that year he was awarded the “Vietnam Veterans National Medal” from Thomas Burch and Congressman Manzullo in Washington, D.C. He was the first recipient of the Illinois Governor’s February 2007 “Veteran of the Month” award for his 25 years of Veteran’s Commitment. December 3, 2018, Gary was one of the two hundred veterans from Illinois to be chosen to be part of the Bicentennial “HONOR VETERANS” Celebration by the Illinois Department of veterans Affairs. Since 2000 until now, another place Gary has been seen spending lots of time making it look good is the All Veterans Memorial Park of Stephenson County. He has been extensively involved in all aspects of the design, building and care of it. Gary has been a Director, Vice-President, and now the incumbent President since 2008.
Veterans Memorial Circle at the Main/Auburn roundabout in Rockford was transformed with flowers this summer into a fitting tribute to Winnebago County veterans. At the first meeting of the Churchill’s Grove Neighborhood Association after the summer break last year, Rick Westlake, then a relatively new resident of Churchill’s Grove, raised his hand and asked to say a few words about something that bothered him as he and his wife, Lisa, were on a walk near
their home.
Always prepared with visuals, Rick handed out copies of a flyer he put together with photos he had taken at each quadrant of the Main and Auburn intersection after he and Lisa discovered barely visible plaques and signage there which designated the area as a veterans’ memorial. “Is this everything it should be?” Rick said, noting that Veterans Memorial Circle is the official name of this roundabout. “Is this the best we can do for our veterans?” “No!” was the collective reply. Through subsequent meetings of the Churchill’s Grove Neighborhood Association, the Friends of Veterans Memorial Circle committee was formed and Rick Westlake became its chair. As planning for the beautification project intensified, volunteers from the three other Rockford neighborhoods surrounding the roundabout (Edgewater, North End Square and Signal Hill) also joined the community effort to say to our vets: “You matter!” By the time we got to Spruce Up Day for the Roundabout – less than eight months later, on May 11, 2019 – our volunteer force included folks from as far west as Pearl City to as far east as Belvidere.
Red, white and blue flowers surround Old Glory in the center of the round-a-bout.
Above: Neighbors of the newly constructed Veterans Memorial Circle decided to make it the best it could be by planting hundreds of flowers this past summer. At right: The volunteer gardeners not only planted flowers, but also posted messages of love for passing veterans and other motorists to see. SUBMITTED PHOTOS Hometown Heroes
VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL AND MUSEUM, WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Veterans Association to host 79th Annual Veterans Dinner The 79th annual Veterans Dinner took place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Giovanni’s , 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford, Ill. The Veterans Dinner has been a tradition in Rockford for over 75 years. It began as a celebration of the Armistice of World War One and continues today to bring together area Veterans and people from the public and private sectors to honor all the Veterans in our community. This year’s keynote speaker will be Angelica ‘Angel’ Pilato, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.), Ph.D. Lt. Col. Pilato takes you back to the ‘60s, one of the most turbulent times in modern history. An unpopular war is raging, students are protesting, black neighborhoods are on fire, and women are demanding equality. Angel tells how these events affected her and her decision to join the Air Force. As the first woman Air Force officer assigned to manage an Officers’ Club and the first to run one on a fighter pilot base in Southeast Asia, she gives a unique perspective of the war.
In her memoir Angel’s Truck Stop, A Woman’s Love, Laughter, and Loss during the Vietnam War she recounts starting out as a starry-eyed idealist only to realize that she’s going to have to learn how to manage the conflicts, challenges and choices she faces in her trailblazing position. Why On Nov. 11, 1918, The Great War unofficially ended when an armistice between the allied nations and Germany went into effect on the, Eleventh Hour Of The Eleventh Day Of The Eleventh Month. Social hour and cocktails began at 5 p.m., and dinner was served at 7 p.m. The Veterans Dinner Program will follow dinner. This year we will be offering a choice of three entrée’s, Turkey, Fish or Vegetarian. Please make your selection at the time of ticket purchase. Tickets are available at a cost of $320 per table of eight or $40 each. To purchase tickets contact Scott Lewandowski at 815969-1999
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KANDU’s Fish Fry & Harvest Buffet is to be held at The Armory located at 10 S. High St., Janesville on Friday, Nov. 15 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. No reservations required. Veterans eat free. The all-youcan-eat buffet is $13.95 for adults 12 and older, $8.50 for children ages 4-11, and kids 3 and under are free. In addition to crispy breaded fried cod, six entrée items will be available, including baked cod in a white wine tomato basil sauce, roasted barbecue chicken, cornbread stuffed pork loin with vanilla pear cider sauce, strip loin roast of beef, smoked sausage with apple and root vegetables, white cheddar mac n’ cheese, and a wide variety of nine seasonal sides, soups and salads. Assorted desserts and a cash bar will be open throughout serving hours.
Take out is also available. There will be 50/50 and prize raffles. In honor of Veteran’s Day, help us provide free meals to our local veterans by becoming a table sponsor for $100, which includes four dinners and recognition throughout the evening. For the complete menu visit www. kanduindustries.com or call (608) 7554123 for more information about becoming a table sponsor. KANDU is a not-for-profit organization that creates, promotes and provides diverse opportunities within the community that offer persons with disabilities or disadvantages the opportunity to pursue greater independence and meet their full potential. A Funded Partner of United Way Blackhawk Region.
Lending, farm program resource guide for veterans released by Center for Rural Affairs
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With the average age of a U.S. farmer at nearly 60 years, and millions of acres expected to change hands over the next few years, many Americans are thinking about who the next generation of producers will be. “Saluting Service: A Guide to Lending and Farm Program Resources for Veterans,” authored by Cora Fox, highlights the needs of America’s next generation of producers, which includes individuals who served their country and
who are now pursuing a second career in agriculture. The white paper outlines farm programs that specifically target beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers, including Farm Service Agency loan programs and Natural Resources Conservation Service programs. For more information and to view “Saluting Service: A Guide to Lending and Farm Program Resources for Veterans,” visit cfra.org/publications/SalutingService.
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Camp Grant Museum keeps history of World Wars training center
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amp Grant Museum is housed in the building that was one of three fire stations and later the Induction and Muster Out Center for Camp Grant during the two World Wars. Camp Grant came into being in the early months of World War I. The land was inspected on June 2, 1917. The Camp was bounded on the north by the City of Rockford, farm lands on the east, and the Kishwaukee and Rock Rivers on the south and west respectively. The actual work on the Camp began on June 30, 1917. Two months later, 1100 buildings were completed. The Camp was designated Camp Grant in honor of President Ulysses S. Grant on July 15, 1917. There were 500 cooks and bakers feeding more than 18,000 men and women. In 1918, it housed 50,000 officers and enlisted men and encompassed 5,460 acres. The firing range covered 312 of those acres. The Camp remained an active army site until 1924 when it was turned over to the Illinois National Guard. In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps stationed approximately 1100 men put out of work by the Great Depression. In 1940, the property reverted back to regular Army use for World War II as an induction center, a training center, a prisoner of war camp, and a medical training unit. With the Camp’s reactivation, a camp police force and fire department were formed. Major George M. O’Connor, then a provost marshall, appointed Ross Atkinson, former Winnebago County Sheriff, as head of the military police. The fire department was headed by Page Crain, a former Rockford Fire Department captain. Military organizations that scored enviable records overseas were the famed 86th, known as the Black Hawks, and the 2808th Engineers, builders of bridges and railroads from Sicily to Florence passed through Camp Grant. Many postcards and pictures line the walls of the Post showing the life at Camp Grant.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS Hometown Heroes
Above: 86TH Division soldiers on the march at Camp Grant in 1917. Below: The Field Bakery at Camp Grant in 1917
The canteen at Camp Grant in 1917.
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VetsRoll was established by the Finnegans in 2010 VetsRoll.org was conceived on Feb. 1, 2010 by John (spouse-Kimberly) and Mark (spouseDarlene) Finnegan, co-owners of Finnegans’ RV Center, inc. in South Beloit, ILL. Finnegans’ RV Center was formed in 1969 by their parents, Cy and Barbara Finnegan. Cy was born in Litchfield, MN and was a WWII Navy Veteran (MM3) in the South Pacific Philippine Theater. Sadly, Cy lost a long and brutal battle to cancer in January of 2000; never having the opportunity to view the memorial that was built in honor of the WWII generation. Barbara is a lifetime resident of Beloit and worked as an Army Signal Corps civilian office employee as a de-coder for the War Department in Arlington, VA. She later worked as a wiring cable lacer at Jorgensen Engineering in Beloit until the end of the war. Barbara was treated as a ‘Rosie-theRiveter’ (the mostly women who went into the work force during WWII to allow more men to head overseas; keeping our factories running at capacity and indirectly leading to the Allied victory because we wore down the enemy) with the VetsRoll group. Cy and Barbara met while Cy was attending a Fairbanks Morse Naval engine training school during the war and were married shortly after the war. Together, they raised 8 children (7 sons and 1 daughter) and actually endured the four eldest boys being in the service during the Vietnam War, although they all came home safely. They were married for 53-1/2 years, until Cy succumbed to cancer. Barbara still resides in the family home on Shopiere Rd in Beloit. After Cy’s passing, John and Mark carried on the ownership of the family business, but always longed for a memorable way to pay eternal tribute to their parents’
generation…’The Greatest Generation’. In September of 2009, the Finnegans’ were contacted by ABC-TV’s Extreme MakeoverHome Edition and supplied RVs for the cast to stay in during a build in Northwest IL. After learning of the need for the show’s subject family, the Finnegans’ decided to do a very quick fundraiser for the Stott family and raised more than $11,000 in just under five days! That experience, at the start of the current recession, showed the Finnegans’ that if the cause is right, people will still give from their hearts. A short time later, John and Mark learned of the wonderful Honor Flight Network that raises money to charter commercial aircraft on one day, round trip flights to fly WWII Veterans to Washington, DC at no cost to the Veterans. The Honor Flight program has ‘hubs’ located throughout America and has given America’s greatest heroes the opportunity to see their memorials before it’s too late. In 2010, the average age of a WWII Era Veteran was now in the mid to late 80s; time was NOT on their side. Sadly, it is estimated that this group of heroes is passing away at the alarming rate of 1,000 each day! The Honor Flights have flown tens of thousands of these heroes to Washington, but the Finnegans’ believed the 18-20 hour days are quite long on someone of their age. Perhaps they could offer an alternative! John and Mark felt they had finally received their calling and began calculating the logistics and expenses of offering a similar program to the WWII Veterans. Since the Finnegans’ are in the RV motorhome rental business, John and Mark looked at doing a 4-day trip by combination of charter buses and motorhomes. They shared their ideas with several others in
their circle of contacts and kicked off VetsRoll. org on March 17th, 2010, just 60 days before their planned departure of May 17-20, 2010. Veterans and volunteers began to sign-up and the donations started to come in and in just 60 days, VetsRoll.org had raised more than $90,000 to successfully schedule a caravan of nine motorhomes, three charter coaches and a support van, carrying 125 WWII Veterans and ‘Rosies.’ Originally thought to be a ‘one-anddone’ venture, demand for subsequent trips continued and the all important donations kept coming and on May 16-19, 2011 VetsRoll 2 was carried out successfully with 200 Veterans (now including the Korean Era Veterans, along with the WWII and ‘Rosies’) and 100 assistants on board 10 charter coaches, with a media coach and a wheelchair lift-equipped support van. This second trip was also a monumental success and in late August of 2011, the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn (Wisconsin’s largest county fair) chose VetsRoll, Inc.® as their preferred charity and
VetsRoll, Inc.® was able to raise more than $15,000 at that one event! The Walworth County Fair has continued to select VetsRoll, Inc.® as their charity every year since 2011 and this single fundraiser is annually one of the largest for VetsRoll, Inc.®! Beginning in 2012, the Culver’s® restaurant in Beloit, Wisconsin initiated a Veteran’s Day Program to honor America’s Veterans and to help support VetsRoll, Inc. ®. That single event has grown to include more than 30 Culver’s® restaurants in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois annually raising donations to support VetsRoll, Inc.® during Veteran’s Day Week each November. Annually, local fundraisers raise significant funds to allow VetsRoll, Inc.® to continue its mission and in 2017, the Tavern League of Wisconsin and its 5,000 members began statewide fundraisers to support the VetsRoll Program, continuing to this day. Each year, 200 more WWII and Korean Era Veterans and ‘Rosies-the-Riveters’ are treated to this trip; all at zero expense to the participants! Thank you!
Rockford VA clinic available to veterans The first VA presence in Rockford dates back to 1986 when there was a contractual agreement with Rockford Medical College and Veterans were seen at the old Family Practice clinic location. The VA converted to a VA staffed model with the opening of a clinic in 1994. In September 2012, the Rockford clinic doubled its size and moved to a new 31,000 square feet facility. The clinic serves more than 8,938 Veterans from Winnebago
County area and four other Illinois counties which are part of the Madison VA Hosptial’s primary service area. Services include: Primary Care, Mental Health Care, Physical Therapy, Gastrointestinal, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Nutrition, Integrated Care, Social Work, Telehealth, Lab Collection, X-Ray Referrals to specialty care at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wis.
Land of the free because of the brave
City of Loves Park “The City with a Heart” 100 Heart Boulevard, Loves Park, IL 61111 • 815-654-5030
359037
Mayor Jury, Loves Park City Staff and Alderman honor all Park Area Veterans and say “thank you” to all our heroes on VETERAN’S DAY.