To strains of the National Anthem and in front of some 50 visitors, veterans from VietNow and VFW Post 998 in Freeport raised American and Red Cross flags at the Northwest Illinois Chapter offices on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16. The flags are the local American Red Cross chapter's first ever flown from an outdoor flagpole in its 93-year history. Saturday, after the ceremony, the flags snapped smartly in the brisk and chilly breeze.
Present at the dedication of the flagpole, donated by Scales Mound resident Diane Stilwell, was the family of Mt. Morris resident MP Spc.Norman Cain III who was memorialized at Freeport High School and buried March 27 after losing his life in Afghanistan March 15, 2009. The Cains were moved by earlier Red Cross aid to their family when Spc. Cain was brought home for the death of his grandfather, and now seek to become more involved in the Chapter’s Services to Armed Forces projects, according to Cain’s aunt, Deb Klages.
Chapter Executive Diana Roemer said the agency pursued a donation for the flag as staff was frustrated they were unable to lower a flag in honor of those fallen during conflicts, particularly Cain. A news article in the Sunday April 19, 2009 edition of The Journal-Standard led to the pole’s donation.
Chapter employees and volunteers Fran Ammons, Judy Hille, Jan Rink, Bev Kruse, and Jason Boatright worked through the weeks preceding the flag-raising to prepare the lawn, adding flowers, mowing, and weeding and mulching bushes. It all culminated Saturday in a moving 20-minute ceremony that left visitors with tear-stained faces.
In honor of the Freeport’s VietNow headquarters, the Chapter has been permitted to add a POW/MIA flag to its pole -- something not typical at chapters -- after local Red Cross staff sought and received permission from Red Cross National Headquarters Services to Armed Forces staff, Roemer announced at the ceremony.
With that news, VietNow donated a 3-foot by 5-foot POW/MIA flag to the chapter Monday morning. Morse Electric president Don Morse contributed lights for the display.
Illinois National Guard MP Spc. Phillip Barker, of Orangeville, on leave from a tour in Afghanistan, aided in the flag-raising which also featured patriotic readings and historical information on the Red Cross flag.
Cain family members present included his parents, Lisa and Mark Otto and Norman and Tina Cain, his brother and sister Zachary and Briana Otto, his son Toryn Cain, and cousins Christine Blair, and Pam and Kevin Wilson.
VietNow veterans at the event were Tony Eanes, Dick Engels, and Dale Nelson. VFW veterans present were Sr. Vice Cmdr. Terry Marsh along with Adjutant Verla Bicker.
The event was the kick-off to the Chapters semi-annual Heroes Campaign during which the Chapter seeks to raise about $20,000. To watch a video of the flag-raising go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BidZ3dUswX4