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 The Irelands are
well known in the community as one of those couples who are always
ready to lend a helping hand to whoever needs it.
Nancy has for many years been the lead coordinator of the annual
MS Walk in Lincoln and works diligently to keep that event growing.
The Irelands have also been very active with the balloon festival
since its inception 25 years ago. They began with the festival as
volunteers, but when Jim attained his pilot's license, they happily
took to the skies with fellow balloonists in their beautiful
balloon, Sunglow.
Ballooning by the Irelands, like many other pilots, has been a
family affair throughout the years. Both of their daughters have
been actively involved in ballooning, with daughter Brenda working
hard as a crew member and daughter Sherry serving oftentimes as a
co-pilot.
In addition to piloting, the Irelands also dedicate their time
each year to serving as pilot co-coordinators for the Lincoln
festival.
For the Irelands, the excitement of ballooning involves not only
taking to the skies but also going to new places and making new
friends along the way. The Irelands have flown in several states and
have even attended the country's largest festival, in Albuquerque,
N.M.
One of Jim's favorite and most significant accomplishments as a
pilot is a flight he made in 1996. In that flight, Ireland lifted
off in Macomb. Four hours and 232 miles later, he touched ground
just south of Bloomington, Ind.
Below is a copy of the resolution passed by the city of Lincoln
on Monday:
WHEREAS, August
23-25, 2013 will mark the 40th Annual Art & Balloon Festival in
Lincoln; and
WHEREAS, Jim and
Nancy Ireland took their first balloon ride in Napa Valley in 1985
which led to a love of ballooning and Jim flying his first balloon
in 1989; and
WHEREAS, Nancy has
always been Jim's crew chief as they have flown in balloon events
across Illinois and in the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico;
and
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 WHEREAS, ballooning
has always been a family affair with their daughters actively
involved with Jim & Nancy's balloons as well as their own; and
WHEREAS, the
Irelands fly their own balloon in the Festival here in Lincoln and
have been involved in the Balloon Festival here each year of its
existence; and
WHEREAS, the Jim
and Nancy also serve as pilot co-coordinators, a valuable role that
makes the Lincoln Balloon Festival an organized, fun, and
well-functioning event for all participating pilots; and
WHEREAS, because of
the efforts of the Irelands the City of Lincoln is blessed each year
to have talented balloon pilots and crews join us in Lincoln during
the last weekend in August to display their skills, beautifully
decorate our skies, and delight us all.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Council of Lincoln that
Friday, August 23, 2013 shall be "Jim & Nancy Ireland Day" in the
City of Lincoln, Illinois as a fitting tribute to the Irelands,
their love of ballooning, and their faithful participation in and
continuing devotion to both the community of Lincoln and the Lincoln
Art & Balloon Festival; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we
congratulate Jim and Nancy Ireland on being named Grand Marshalls of
the 2013 Annual Art and Balloon Festival parade; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the
people of Lincoln join us in extending to Jim and Nancy our deep
gratitude and appreciation for the time, effort, and passion they
have committed to make the Lincoln Balloon Festival a success and
for all they do for our community each day of their lives.
Dated this 19th day of August, 2013.
Keith Snyder, Mayor
Susan Gehlbach,
City Clerk
[By NILA SMITH]
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