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The doors to the event opened just before 6 p.m. for
people who had purchased tickets in advance. As the first few people
began to enter the hall, the city of Lincoln Fire Department was
raising an American flag from the aerial ladder of one of their
trucks in the parking lot.
Once inside, everyone was greeted and shown to their
assigned tables. The decorations were beautiful, with red, white,
and blue tablecloths and centerpieces provided by Sarah Welsh. The
lighting provided a nice calming ambiance to the room. There were
decorations everywhere invoking a sense of patriotism.
At the front was a small end table adorned with items
honoring those veterans who could not be in attendance, as well
as descriptions of their significance. Some of these items included
an inverted glass “to remind us they cannot toast with us tonight,”
a Bible that “represents the strength gained through faith to
sustain those lost,” and a single red rose to remind us “of the
families and loved ones of the missing who keep faith awaiting their
return.”
A handout was also provided for attendees to read
over as they waited for dinner to be served. This handout went over
the history of the Hope on 5th facility, their mission and vision,
and some updates and future goals. Some of the highlights of the
latter two include the beginnings of renovations to eventually move
Carle Health into the facility, an official partnership between
Regional Housing and Support Services (RHSS), and Heartland
Community College to provide culinary classes out of Hope on 5th’s
newly renovated kitchen, and a statement about continuing to
renovate the facility over the next few years to provide housing for
individuals and families in need in our community.
There was a board toward the back of the room with
more information on Hope on 5th. There were several before and after
pictures showing the progress that has been made in the last year.
The board also included information such as the new features of the
building and ways that people can help fundraise, including mention
of a donation list that was stated to be coming soon.
The bar was open, and many people lined up to get a beverage or two
before dinner was served. Once 6:30 p.m. hit, a prayer was offered
by Julie King and tables were dismissed one at a time for a meal of pulled pork and chicken
sandwiches, apple pie smoked beans, and coleslaw.
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As dinner came to a close, the members of the RHSS
board came up to address the audience. Kim Turner thanked everyone
in attendance and the organizations that helped sponsor the event.
These organizations included Elks Lodge, Red Oak Financial, Lincoln
Memorial Hospital, and the American Legion. Turner then gave a brief
update on the Hope on 5th facility, sharing that they hope to have a
dedicated veterans wing in the facility ready to go “very soon.”
Turner did not give a date or time frame in which this was to be
ready, instead stating that they are “starting slow to get it
right.”
Turner then spent a few moments speaking on the late Joe Schaler,
who was a member of the RHSS board. She spoke on his contributions
to veterans housing in Central Illinois and his caring nature.
Turner then introduced the speaker for the night, Chuck Fricke, who
spoke on the topic of “A Tribute to American Patriotism.”
Fricke opened with a prayer before speaking to the
nature and history of patriotism in America. The theme throughout
his presentation was to “speak to the heart.” Fricke spoke on many
different ideas relating to the topic of patriotism, including how
patriotism ties into American history, bringing in examples from
both World Wars and the American Revolution. He also showed and
talked about various flags leading up to the American Revolution and
how each of them spoke of patriotism in their time. He also shared
ideas of how four basic building blocks of character can lead to
patriotism.
Fricke shared some stories about his father, who had been awarded
two Purple Hearts in World War II, something Fricke did not learn
about his father until after he had passed. Fricke used his personal
examples to encourage those in attendance to have meaningful
conversations and learn about the patriotism of veterans in their
families and their lives. Fricke stated that this helps to lead to
individual pride, which can then lead to a greater sense of national
pride.
During the presentation, Fricke also spoke on the history of the
three volleys. This tradition involves an odd number of soldiers
forming a line and firing three succinct volleys of gunfire into the
air at the funeral of a fallen soldier. This tradition, Fricke
shared, goes back to the Roman Empire, where, after a battle,
soldiers would walk the battlefield and call the names of their
fallen allies three times.
Fricke’s presentation was concluded with a flag folding ceremony in
honor of Schaler. A large photograph of Schaler was placed at the
front of the room in front of a table that had a flag draped over
it. Four veterans from the American Legion Post 26 Color Guard then
proceeded to fold the flag in a 13-Fold Script. The oldest living
veteran, 100-year-old Bill Gossett was brought to the front to
inspect the folding of the flag. It was then presented to RHSS Board
Member Nadia Klekamp for future display at Hope on 5th. The folding
and presenting of the flag were followed by a video of three
volleys, honoring Schaler once more.
This moving ceremony ended the night’s events, with Fricke
encouraging everyone to continue to donate to Hope on 5th’s mission.
[Matt Boutcher] |
