Family and friends of the soldiers will have the opportunity to hang
handmade, heart-shaped ornaments on a tree near the memorial. Each
ornament will bear the name of a lost loved one. The general public
can also participate by bringing a weatherproof ornament to hang.
State Sen. Sam McCann, R-Carlinville, will be the master of
ceremonies, and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 534 will
provide the color guard. The ceremony will also include Christmas
music courtesy of Land of Lincoln Barbershop Chorus.
Mikle Siere Sr. of the Lincoln Tomb and War Memorials State
Historic Site will read the POW/MIA names. The invocation and
benediction will be led by Father Jeff Grant of Blessed Sacrament
Church in Springfield.
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The event is sponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation
Agency, which operates the Illinois Vietnam Memorial. The memorial,
along with the state's World War II and Korean War memorials and the
Abraham Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, is at 1500 Monument Ave.
in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
All are open daily for free tours.
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Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial
[Text from file received from the
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency] |