Weekend vigil for Illinoisans killed in Vietnam War

[May 02, 2014]  SPRINGFIELD — The 2,998 Illinois troops who died in the Vietnam War will be remembered this weekend with special ceremonies and a 24-hour vigil at the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery. The ceremony also marks the 26th anniversary of the memorial's dedication.

The opening ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Illinois Veteran Memorial Vigil Organization formally starts the vigil at noon. Saturday evening at 6, there will be a special ceremony for the 66 men from Illinois still listed as prisoners of war or missing in action.

The memorial will remain open overnight so members of the public can take part in the vigil.

The closing ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Sunday and will conclude with the retiring of the honor guard from the Illinois Veteran Memorial Vigil Organization.

The vigil and all the ceremonies are free and open to the public.

The Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is located off Route 29 in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]