Logan County Courthouse fills for War on Terror plaque dedication
Staff Sergeant Daniel Gresham remembered

 

[March 06, 2020] 

On Wednesday evening the Logan County Courthouse first floor area was filled to standing room only from the east doorway through the rotunda area. Guests were there to witness the dedication of the new War on Terror plaque.

With the place packed at 7 p.m., Emcee Joe Schaler considered it gratifying and humbling, noting that the outpouring of people for the dedication spoke to the patriotism that exists within our county.

The Logan County Board, Logan County Veteran’s Assistance Commission and the Military Order of the Purple Heart hosted.

Schaler in his opening remarks introduced Logan County Board Chairman Emily Davenport and welcomed guests on behalf of the board, the Logan VAC and the MOPH.

He spent just a moment reaching out to veterans who were in the group that might not belong to any of the local organizations such as VFW or American Legion. He noted that membership rules for the American Legion have changed somewhat, so that people who were previously not eligible might now be.

Sheralyn and Sadie Bolton lead the group in the singing of the National Anthem.

Cards have been printed that resembled the cover of the evening program and featured the medal for the War on Terror. Schaler gave those cards to Marilyn Craig representing the Emblem Club in Lincoln. He said that the Emblem Club will be sending cards to local soldiers in active duty as a show of appreciation for their service to county and community.

Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs Program Director Crystal Womack spoke first. She thanked all the veterans past, present and future for their service that has made our country a safer place to live for past, present and future generations.

The War on Terror has been most prevalent since the September 11, 2001 attacks on our country. She said that 136 countries large and small had lent their support to our country. Some gave a great deal, some made only small contributions, but each was equally significant in their support for our country.

She said that the war has cost a great deal, but the return has also been great. She said thanks to the efforts of all, and the sacrifices of all, terrorist organizations have been identified and neutralized. She noted there is still work to do and that this will be an ongoing war to keep not just our country, but the world safer for our children.

She concluded, “God bless those who have served, who continue to serve, and I personally thank you.”

Representative Tim Butler noted it was wonderful for Logan County to be doing the plaque. He noted that the county on the whole does a great job of remembering, honoring and respecting our veterans. He said, “The stuff that you have been able to do in Logan County should be emulated and done across the state of Illinois, so thank you for what you do.”

Butler went on to say that this War on Terror has impacted all of us. He noted that September 11th was a tragic event, but he added that since that time, there has been practically nothing (foreign attack) in our country. He said that it “speaks volumes to our military and speaks volumes to our intelligence agencies around the globe that work in the dark corners no one will ever know. To see what our military and intelligence does to keep us safe is tremendous.”

Butler also delivered a certificate for Logan County from Senator Bill Brady who was unable to attend.

Next was Dan Benedict. Benedict is the Superintendent of the Logan County VAC. Furthermore, he is a War on Terror veteran and was involved in military intelligence in the Air Force.

Benedict’s speech included listing the many ‘operations” that have taken place since August 2, 1990. He said there had been more than 30 such operations and that nearly 7,000 military members have made the ultimate sacrifice in the War on Terror.

As he read the long list of operations, he paused to note that it was Operation Neptune Spear that ended the life of Osama bin Laden.

Benedict said that we all remember September 11, 2001. He said then our country embarked on the massive call to take on this war. He said that in that time, 3,000,000 men and women have served their country, joining this war in countries known and unknown to many of us. He gave a list of all the countries where American troops have spent time working to neutralize terrorist activity within our world. After reading the list he noted that this war is not just in Iraq and Afghanistan, the terror threat exists all around the world and our troops are there to intercept evil.

Benedict noted that the new plaque which features a glass case with the names of veterans who have served from Logan County in the War on Terror. He said that this was just one display within the courthouse. There are many, and they are there for family and friends to come and see and know that they have loved ones who served, some who sacrificed their lives. There are those names on the wall that represent those who came home with wounds, and many who came home with invisible wounds.

Benedict ended saying that this was a plaque where more names would be added, but his ultimate prayer was that there would be no more plaques, no more names, no more soldiers who gave all. And added, “but we will. As this war on terror rages, we will add more names.”

For Benedict the speech was a struggle in its own right. He paused from time to time to gather his thoughts and emotions. After he left the podium Schaler noted that for someone who has been through all this first hand, it is a hard think to speak about, and he appreciated Benedict for his service to the country and his community.

Col. James Allen was the next speaker. He spoke about the war saying first it is unique because it is different than past wars. He said it was enduring and multi-generational. He said it was also different because there was no clear identity of the enemy, no clear lines of battle, no campaigns or theaters of battle. It is also different in that it is a cyber war. Artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems and satellite imagery are just some of the modern components that make it a unique undertaking.

He moved on adding that though unique, in many ways it is also the same as many other wars in that it has united us in a common purpose just as it did in the Revolutionary War of 1776. He said that it also had the ability to divide the people of the world, just as other wars have done in the past.

Allen spoke about his time at Fort Benning, Georgia. Fort Benning has a joint global War on Terrorism Memorial to all those who have given their life from all factions of military service.

Allen said that a name on the Lincoln wall, Staff Sergeant Daniel Gresham, is also on the Fort Benning Memorial. He said that it serves as an example that what hit us here at home, also has had an impact in other areas. He said that a war on terror memorial is underway on the grand mall in Washington D.C. and he expects that Gresham will also be named there, signifying that this war has impacted locally, impacted military, and has impacted our country on the whole with the sacrifices made for freedom.

SSGT Gresham was from Lincoln and went to school in Logan County. He died in Iraq in 2005 and was holding one of the riskiest positions in the military, he was the one who disarmed explosives.

He was called to disarm an IED (improvised explosive devise). As was the case in many occasions, there was a second IED that had been hidden. It was a booby trap. Gresham went in to disarm the known explosive and set off the hidden one, costing him his life. Allen said that this story had a particular impact on him personally because he was in Iraq at that time and it very well could have been his troop that arrived in that location next. The bomb that took the life of Gresham could have taken the life of Allen and many others.

Allen told a second story of a solider not from our area but one who gave his all for his fellow soldiers. The young man was a machine gunner in a convoy. As they passed through an area a grenade was dropped into his vehicle from a building. The young man without thinking of himself for even a second, threw himself on the grenade, buffering the impact of the explosion and saving the lives of the others in his vehicle.

Ultimate sacrifice. As Benedict and Schaler both say regularly, “all gave some, and some gave all.”

Allen said that both this young man and Daniel Gresham are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, a place of distinction, a right and a special honor given to our military men and women. He added that when flying out of Washington, one can see that cemetery and its magnitude. It serves as a reminder for all.

Allen said that remembering these men was not just local, it was national. He added that he felt that having the wall in Lincoln for the War on Terror was profound and very meaningful.

After Allen finished, the Bolton’s lead in the singing 'God Bless America.'

Schaler was then joined at the podium by Peter Dowding, who is an army veteran participating in the War on Terror and also now the Junior Vice Commander of the Hayes-Krell Chapter 159 Military Order of the Purple Heart.

The two together presented and installed a special plaque in the War on Terror Wall in remembrance of SSGT Daniel Gresham. Of the 7,000 killed in the War on Terror, Gresham was number 120. He was killed February 24, 2005. He was awarded the bronze star and the Purple Heart. He was a graduate of Lincoln Community High School. He was honored in 2005 by then Mayor Beth Davis.

As the plaque was placed in its designated space, Sadie Bolton played Taps from the back of the room. Eyes were filled with tears as all in the room came to grasp the reality of the sacrifices of so many young men and women who gave their lives for the right to gather in the Logan County Courthouse without fear, without reservation, in love and respect for our veterans. It is a wall, not just to those who have gone in our stead, but those who stood together on this night, feeling the gravity of the moment, and perhaps remembering their own battles, their own wounds, and their own scars inward and outward.

Pastor Dan McQuality, also a veteran of the War on Terror, was called upon to deliver the benediction.

Schaler also noted the many who had been involved in the establishment of the new wall memorial. He said that the top medal on the wooden display case had been donated by J.M. Abbott and Associates. Small Town Creations had donated the smaller name plaques that were mounted in the case.

He thanked Sheriff Mark Landers for securing the courthouse for the evening, and Patriot Guard Ride Captain Mike Fulk for the assembly of flags outside the courthouse.

He offered a special thanks to local veterans Gary Hughes, Bill Dennis, and Dan Benedict for the work they had done, mounting each small name plaque onto the display.

He also acknowledged Lincoln Printers who had done the programs for the evening.

Schaler then closed the evening saying, “To everybody, all the commanders that showed up, our elected officials that had to run from Springfield or across the street, all of you who showed up, I am humbled by it….Thank you all so very, very much for coming tonight.”

After the group was dismissed, all were invited to Flossie & Delzena’s for a reception.

The new Wall on Terror display features a medal at the top of the wood and glass display case that imitates the medal presented to soldiers. Under the glass are the names of the soldiers who have served to date with space allowed for adding names as this war continues on. The case is located on the first floor of the courthouse the first case on the left as one walks into the courthouse from the east door.

The public is encouraged to visit this and the many other similar memorials honoring the service men and women from Logan County during regular business hours at the courthouse.

[Nila Smith]

Staff Sgt. Daniel G. Gresham, 23, of Lincoln, serving Camp Wilson, Iraq, KIA, Feb 24, 2005.

Feb 28, 2005

Lincoln soldier loses life in Iraq

Mar 12, 2005 : Community memorial service honoring Staff Sgt. Daniel G. Gresham, who died in Iraq, held 10 a.m. at All Veterans Park, Union Street, Lincoln.

LDN dedicated the Memorial Day weekend edition in memory of Staff Sergeant Daniel Gresham, who gave is life in Iraq on Feb 24, 2005.

Lincoln Daily News - Saturday, May 28, 2005

2007

U.S. Army Cpl. Francis Marion Trussel Jr., 21, wounded on May 26, 2007 in Tahrir, Iraq, and died shortly thereafter.

While not a Logan County resident, the community came together once again at All Veteran's Park to honor fallen soldier U.S. Army Cpl. Francis Marion Trussel Jr. Cpl. Trussel was educated nearby, attended Lincoln College and has many friends and family in the area.
Community gathers to honor fallen soldier, U.S. Army Cpl. Francis Marion Trussel Jr.

Community gathers to honor fallen soldier, U.S. Army Cpl. Francis Marion Trussel Jr.