Champaign's Grandview Cemetery gets flag makeover for Memorial Day
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Many in Champaign came out Saturday morning to plant more than 2,000 flags in honor of Memorial Day. And they're not done yet.
It's in preparation for the Memorial Day ceremony put on by Amvet Post 3. Flags were placed on veteran's graves across Grandview Memorial Gardens.
Three Decatur men protecting casket flags at cemetery
'That's extremely rewarding. You know, the lifestyle that we're able to live here, it's because of all these that served before us, each and every flag that's flying,' organizer Jason Moore said. 'And especially out here, when the wind's blow and you get to see them, you know, fully expanded. And know that each one of those represents somebody that served and, you know, kind of help protect that way of life.'
Moore said he still needs help. They'll be placing around 300 larger flags on the grounds Monday at 6 a.m. He said to help out all you have to do is show up — no sign up necessary.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Midstate Jewish congregation set out to write a new torah
(WHTM) — The Chisuk Emuna Congregation launched an initiative — allowing its members to experience an opportunity that only happens once in a generation. 'I was the President when we were creating the new building,' said Carl Shuman. It has been more than a decade later since then. Now, 'We are commissioning a new torah scroll, which is the book, the scroll that we read from on the Sabbath and on holidays,' he added. Writing a new torah is an extremely rare opportunity. 'Well, for one thing, it's an expensive undertaking,' Shuman said. 'So, it's very hard for synagogues to replace their torah scrolls when it becomes necessary.' Torahs are written and made to last a long time. 'We currently have six torahs in the congregation, but only two of them are good enough to be used for ritual use. And those two are very old,' said Maggie Grotzinger. 'So, we wanted to write a new torah written.' Grotzinger is a volunteer with the Pillars of Strength initiative — which helps with the funding. 'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity,' she said. 'So, we just really want them to be inspired, to be able to participate and, as I said, perform this one mitzvah that we're asked to do as Jews.' The Gordon family — who provided a generous gift in order to launch the initiative — wrote the first letter in the new torah. 'It's just a lovely day. It's lovely always to get together,' Shuman shared. 'We really are a wonderful family in this congregation. It's lovely to see fellow members and especially to be celebrating something. We don't always get to do that.' Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Writing the torah is a six-month process, click here for more information on how to get involved or donate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WWII vet to celebrate 100th birthday in Central IL
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Friday was the 81st anniversary of D-Day, and in Central Illinois, WCIA is celebrating a veteran who helped with the Normandy operation in June 1944. Now, Harvey Hodges is preparing for another milestone in his life. 'It's a great event for all': 14th Annual CU Autism Walk and Resource Fair 81 years ago, he was helping troops on Utah Beach in Normandy, France, but then, there was a day that changed his role in the service forever.'While I was there, there was an accident,' Hodges said. 'A situation, I'll call it, in which I don't know anything about, because I was at an explosion, I was told, and I had a mild concussion. No bodily injuries, just don't remember anything.'D-Day was around the time of his 19th birthday, and luckily, he found another way to help in the war, after a sergeant heard Hodges was musically inclined.'And I played a few tunes that I could remember,' he said. 'And, he said, 'Can you read music?' And I said, 'Yes, I can read music.' And he said, 'You'll do.' And I'll never forget that.' It's a time that's now a distant memory. And for Hodges, perseverance is a common recently broke his femur but he's not letting that stop him from celebrating his 100th birthday. Savoy animal clinic hosts open house 'I am going to be there. I'm in a wheelchair right now for, I guess, broken leg. But it's going to be well in time. We're counting on it,' Hodges all Hodges achievements he's most proud of his daughter and all the people he's met along the way, like the students he taught to play music.'So that's good that you were able to help people do what they really had the talent and wanted to do,' Hodges hopes to see some of the faces from his past at his upcoming celebration. Hodges' 100th birthday party will be June 28th, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the at the Windsor in Savoy. His family said they are looking forward to seeing all of the people who have been a part of his life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rochester fire crews respond to kitchen fire at senior living apartment
SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — One person was brought to the hospital for an evaluation following a fire at a senior living apartment in Sangamon County on Sunday. The Rochester Fire Protection District said the fire started in the kitchen of a cottage located in the 1100 block of Community Drive. Meat on the stove had overheated and caught fire, which damaged the stove, microwave and the surrounding cabinets. Chatham 5K proceeds to be donated in crash victim's honor The smoke alarms were working, which alerted the residents and allowed the fire crews to responded quickly. The first responders arrived around 1:30 p.m. and the fire was out within minutes, according to Rochester fire officials. All units were able to leave the scene around 2 p.m. There were two people inside the apartment at the time of the fire. One person was brought to the hospital for a precautionary evaluation, but no major injuries were reported. Springfield, Riverton, Dawson and Mechanicsburg fire crews provided mutual aid and helped get the fire under control. The Rochester Police Department also responded to the scene. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
