Ceremony Recalls Tragedy 55 Years Ago

A memorial ceremony held in Danville over the weekend brought back memories of a tragedy more than fifty years ago.  Bill Pickett explains…

State Senator Paul Farachi says the fight to protect workers on the job is far from over…

{AUDIO:  “There’s always something new that can be added and updated.  We just passed a bill out of committee a couple weeks ago that provides additional protections for people that work.  And so, we’re always trying to keep aware of what those issues are and how we can protect people.”}

The Senator was one of the speakers at a Workers Memorial Day Ceremony in Danville on Saturday (April 26, 2025).  It took place at the local Workers Memorial along North Hazel Street which bears the names of over 35 area residents who have died while on the job.

(State Representative Brandun Schweizer also spoke at the ceremony.)

A new name added is W. Dale Cooper, who was one of three workers shot to death at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Danville more than 50 years ago.

          Kevin Sage, (shown here) President of the East-Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, says Cooper certainly deserves recognition…

{AUDIO: “This gentleman, he had served in the military.  He came back, went across the United States and served in V-As.  He passed away here in Danville so we’re going to honor him today.  And it’s long overdue I think,}

Sage noted the memorial service takes place each year….

{AUDIO:  “Every year when we get to Workers Memorial Day, we want to honor the people that were on the jobsites that passed away while they were working.  So we put their name onto the memorial here, and honor them for their work and dedication.  Just give them a little bit of honor for the work that they did.”}

Jeff Cooper, on right in the photo, speaks with State Senator Paul Farachi before the ceremony.  Jeff and his twin brother, Greg, were only 13 when their father died in the shooting spree at the VA hospital.  Their brother Steve was serving in the Navy at the time.

“Dad came from a humble background and believed in helping people, especially those in need,’’ said Jeff Cooper.  Names of the other two people who died in the shooting spree at the VA had been added to the memorial earlier.  But it was only recently that local labor leaders learned that, through an oversight, Dale Cooper’s name had not been added to the memorial yet.

“His death was an absolute tragedy and adding his name to the memorial is something that is long overdue,’’ added Sage.