Local veterans among those honored at Bicentennial Gala
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[December 14, 2018]     Send a link to a friend  Share

On December 3rd two Logan County Veterans were part of the 200th Birthday Celebration Gala for the state. The gala was held at Navy Pier in Chicago. During the evening the program included a time of recognition for 200 of the state’s notable veterans.

Pictures provided by Melanie Schaler

Joe Schaler of Lincoln and Vince Long of Beason were selected according to their outstanding service to their community and local veterans since leaving military duty.

During the veteran portion of the evening, a veteran video was shown featuring the voice of actor Joe Mantegna, and there was a live performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

 
 

Schaler and Long traveled to Chicago for the gala and met up at the Lincoln Depot with several other veterans from the region who were included in the invitation to be honored.

  

 

Pictured left to right are: Lincoln native Dale Hunter - Battle of the Bulge, Army, Vincent J. Speranza, of Auburn - Battle of the Bulge Purple Heart and French Legion of Honor Award recipient, Eric Murphy - Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs Liason and Purple Heart recipient who served in IRAQ and Joe Schaler, Purple Heart recipient who served in Vietnam and is the MOPH Commander Hayes-Krell Chapter #159.

  

 

Veterans were invited to attend the gala with their spouses. Before boarding the train in Lincoln everyone attending from the area gathered for a photo at the Amtrak waiting station.
 

 

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