Press Release - Tuesday, October 17, 2006
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QUINN UNVEILS RIVETING MEMORIAL FOR ILLINOIS' FALLEN Illinois Gold Star Families attend the opening of the ‘Portrait of a Soldier' memorial in Peoria
(PEORIA) - Today, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn unveiled the Portrait of a Soldier memorial - a series of hand-drawn portraits of 134 Illinois men and women who have died in service to our country since September 11, 2001.
Quinn was joined by Gold Star parents Sharon Ball, mother of fallen Marine Gunnery SGT Terry Ball of East Peoria and Peter Wehrly, father of fallen Army SFC Kyle Wehrly of Galesburg, Illinois. SFC Wehrly's widow, Janet Wehrly, was also in attendance.
Cameron Schilling, the artist behind Portrait of a Soldier, drew his first sketch in August 2004 after Spc. Charles Neeley, also of Mattoon, was killed in Iraq. Schilling gave the portrait sketch to Spc. Neeley's parents to convey his sympathy for their loss.
In October 2005, Schilling decided to memorialize every fallen Illinois soldier. Schilling called his endeavor "Portrait of a Soldier" and set up a not-for-profit website of the same name where families could contact him and receive a portrait of their loved one.
As full-time college student at Eastern Illinois University, this massive project was Schilling's way to help Illinois Gold Star families and serve his country.
"The Portrait of a Soldier memorial is a moving tribute to men and women who have given their last full measure of devotion to our democracy," Quinn said. "I commend Cameron Schilling for making sure our fallen military heroes live forever in our memory. I encourage everyone to come see Portrait of a Soldier and honor the heroes who have defended democracy."
Quinn was also joined by Chet Tomczyk, President and CEO of WTVP.
The Portrait of a Soldier memorial will be on display at the WTVP Studio Gallery through Friday, October 20. The exhibit is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information on Portrait of a Soldier, visit www.OperationHomefront.org. With more than 17.7 million hits, it's one of the country's most informative websites on supporting our troops.
SOLDIERS FROM CENTRAL ILLINOIS
|
Air Force LT COL John Stein |
03/23/2003 |
Bardolph |
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Marine PVT Jonathan L. Gifford |
03/23/2003 |
Macon |
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Marine CPL Evan James |
03/24/2003 |
La Harpe |
|
Army Staff Sgt. Lincoln Hollinsaid |
04/07/2003 |
Malden |
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Army SPC Ryan G. Carlock |
09/09/2003 |
Macomb |
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Army SPC Gregory R. Goodrich |
04/09/2004 |
Bartonville |
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Navy Petty Officer 1st Class |
05/23/2004 |
Maroa |
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Navy HMCS (SEAL/SWCC) Theodore Fitz-Henry |
06/15/2004 |
Canton |
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Army 1 SGT Ernest E. Utt |
06/27/2004 |
Hammond |
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Marine 2 LT Ryan Leduc |
09/24/2004 |
Pana |
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Marine CPL Joshua D. Palmer |
11/08/2004 |
Blandinsville |
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Marine CPL Ian W. Stewart |
12/12/2004 |
Princeville |
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Army CPL Daniel Castillo |
01/10/2005 |
Streator |
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Marine CPL Jonathan Beatty |
01/27/2005 |
Ottawa |
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Army Staff SGT Daniel G. Gresham |
02/24/2005 |
Lincoln |
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Army SPC Jacob C. Palmatier |
02/24/2005 |
Springfield |
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Army 2nd LT Richard B. Gienau |
02/27/2005 |
Peoria |
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Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas C. Hull |
08/02/2005 |
Princeton |
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Marine Gunnery SGT Terry W. Ball |
08/06/2005 |
East Peoria |
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Army 1st LT Debra A. Butler-Banaszak |
10/28/2005 |
Bloomington |
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Army SFC Kyle B. Wehrly |
11/03/2005 |
Galesburg |
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Army 1st Class Eric P. Pearrow |
11/24/2005 |
Peoria |
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Army SPC Ronald W. Gebur |
05/13/2006 |
Delavan |
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Army PFC Caleb A. Lufkin |
05/25/2006 |
Knoxville |
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Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Gary T. Rovinski |
06/05/2006 |
Roseville |
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