ABOVE: District 118 teacher and Post 210 Legion Rider Adrienne Phelps announces gift of KIA flag to Vermilion County War Museum prior to Sat June 21st Sparky Songer Memorial Ride. Post 210 had received the flag from Legion Riders in Salinas, California.
It was a hot Saturday morning, but participants were ready to take off at noon from Madison Street to raise money for the Vermilion County War Museum with the Sparky Songer Memorial Ride. As the museum’s Larry Weatherford reminds us, the least the riders could do in memory of Sparky Songer was put up with the heat.
(1st Picture) Assistant Director of Westville Legion Riders Frank Gabehart (L) and Post 210 Rider Captain Darrel Courson (R) display KIA flag being presented to Vermilion County War Museum. (3rd Picture) State Rep Brandun Schweizer (middle) listens to presentation. Kayla Officer (right of Schweizer) performed the National Anthem.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: When Sparky was in WWII, he was at the Battle of the Bulge; out in the snow, in the cold; and a bullet hit his spoon that that’s famous for; and it didn’t kill him, because the spoon took the bullet and bounced it off. So these guys can handle a little bit of heat, I think, in honoring Sparky and the War Museum.
Prior to the ride, a KIA flag given to Post 210 by Legion Riders in Salinas, California; who are part of a group called the “Ghost Soldiers,” was presented to the museum. Teacher and Legion Rider Adrienne Phelps emceed the presentation.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: What they do is they go around the country, and they present this special flag to family members of the fallen, as well as Legions and areas, for the fallen in those counties. And they selected Post 210 to be a recipient of their flag, and we are going to present it today to the War Museum for all of Vermilion County to share.
State Rep Brandun Schweizer was on hand, and dressed for the occasion.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: There’s a lot of folks out here wearing shirts that have a memorial to somebody; I have one to my friend Josh Birsfield. So, it’s just great. And like the bottom moniker (on the KIA flag) says, you know, we’ll always remember their sacrifice.
We should also mention that State Rep Schweizer is now officially Commander of the new VFW Post 3510. They currently have 24 members, and are meeting on the first Tuesday of every month, 4:30 PM, at the Danville Public Library.