‘We miss him'; Fallen Illinois State Troopers honored on Workers Memorial Day
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Workers Memorial Day is a time to reflect and remember those hurt or killed on the job.
In Champaign, two state troopers were honored for making the ultimate sacrifice.
Family members sat in the front of the ceremony in Dodds Park. Behind them, a line of state troopers stood honoring their colleagues, 28-year-old Corey Thompsen and 45-year-old Todd Hanneken, whose lives were cut short while on duty in Champaign County.
Danville man honored for Workers Memorial Day
'He was just a kid that just had everything going for him,' Corey's grandfather John Thompsen said.
It's been just over six months since Corey died while finishing a traffic enforcement.
'We miss him,' John said. 'He was a young man at 28 years old just beginning. He'd been on the force about five, going on six years.'
On Monday, the Thompsen family honored Corey by wearing memorial shirts and bracelets. They were joined by workforce advocates remembering him and fellow trooper Hanneken, who died in 2021 after his car left the roadway and hit a pole.
'The people that they have lost are not forgotten and the labor community at large does remember them and wants to honor them,' Champaign County AFL-CIO President Matt Kelly said.
The Workers Memorial event in Champaign was one of countless across the country — all fighting for greater workplace safety.
'I didn't even know [what] this day was,' John said. 'I didn't know it, and when they said they was going to have this ceremony for Corey and the other officer, I said, 'We'll for sure have to get there.''
PREVIOUSLY: Workers Memorial Day in Champaign honoring two Central IL State Troopers
John said Corey's life was cut short just 20 minutes before he was supposed to get off work. The newly wed left behind a family dedicated to keeping his legacy alive.
'The recognition and everything about it is so great, but it don't bring him back,' John said.
The Thompsen family has been honoring Corey in multiple ways. Earlier this year, his loved ones hosted a volleyball fundraiser in his memory. A 5K will take place this summer to continue their efforts of honoring the 28-year-old.
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