Motorists traveling through Danville this holiday weekend will notice a Memorial Day tradition continues. North Vermilion Street has turned into Rotary Memorial Way with hundreds of small American Flags lining the route.
Tom Chamberlain was among Danville Rotary Club members who placed the flags on Friday…
{Audio: ‘’We’re just honoring our fallen soldiers – honoring even soldiers still living today. It’s all part of a Memorial Day Weekend. It started twenty years ago by some (local) Rotarians here in Danville that just thought that this was a great way to honor our Veterans,’’ said Chamberlain, ‘’but we honor other people as well.’’}
Chamberlain noted each flag had someone sponsor it for $5-dollars. An attached card lists information about the person being honored. Chamberlain explained where the money goes…
{AUDIO: ‘’It helps the (Vermilion County) War Museum. We have some scholarships at Danville Area Community College. But it’s all centered around Veterans,’’ added Chamberlain during an interview with VermilionCountyFirst.com News.
And what does Chamberlain hope motorists will feel as they drive past the flags this weekend?
{AUDIO: ‘’Reverence, honor of our military, and pride for Danville.”}
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In rural Westville, Jerry Beckley of the Westville Recreation League was with youth placing flags at the Saint Peter and Paul Cemetery….
{AUDIO: ‘’We just come out every year, and we try to put flags out with our local American Legion to just memorialize the Veterans – our local Veterans. We do this one and two other cemeteries.’’}
(This is just some of those who helped place the flags in Westville. Beckley is the adult in the red shirt in rear of photo.)
Beckley likes having the youth involved in placing the flags…
{AUDIO: ‘’I think we need to teach our youth all about what it is to serve your country. They can do a little bit more to be part of the community – and that’s what this is all about.’’}
American Flags were also placed on the graves of Veterans at other locations all over the area. Citizens were invited to volunteer to place flags at the Danville National Cemetery (at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 29, 2021). Volunteers will also help collect the flags at the Danville National Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, (June 1, 2021).
