Gold Star Families Memorial Monument escorted to Watseka

The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument was escorted into Watseka April 17.

The monument dedication ceremony is set for 1 p.m. April 26 at 912 S. Fourth in Watseka’s Legion Park.

Following the ceremony, free food and live entertainment will be at the Silo Pub and Eatery.

Scott Allen, one of the organizers, said everyone is invited to the dedication.

“If there’s any Gold Stars who are out there yet and have not contacted me I’d like to have them contact me so we know they are coming. It’s all about them. It’s all about the Gold Stars,” he said.

The project has been a labor of love for the committee over the past couple of years.

Fundraising has taken place locally for several months. A groundbreaking was conducted in Legion Park in September of 2023.

There is a local committee working on the project and the group is working through the Woody Williams Foundation, which helps to establish the memorial monuments throughout the country.

The local committee is made up of Tammy Allen (Gold Star Mother), Kris Hemp (Gold Star Mother), Eric West and Janet Doyle, with honorary board members Scott Allen and Alucia Marshall.

The Woody Williams Foundation is a 501©3 “That pursues specific endeavors and goals through the vision of Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams.” The foundation “encourages, with the assistance of the American public and community leaders, establishing permanent Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments in communities throughout the United States, conducting Gold Star Families Outreach across the country, and providing Living Legacy scholarships to eligible Gold Star Family members.”

According to the website woodywilliams.org, Williams honored and served Gold Star Families throughout his life and the foundation helps that legacy continue.

People can also ask questions by emailing watsekagoldstarmemorial@gmail.com or call 815-671-5494.

Allen said, “Whatever donations we get that doesn’t pay for the monument itself will be left in a bank for repairs and maintenance.” There are a couple of events planned, like a Jeep and motorcycle run this fall, are still in the works to raise money.

This is the third Gold Star Families Monument in Illinois. The other two are in Naperville and Bourbonnais.

“This monument is not for any particular fallen. It’s actually not for the fallen at all. It’s for the families of the fallen,” he said. “We’d like for the Gold Star Families to reach out to us so we can recognize them.

“This monument honors the Gold Star Families but it also brings remembrance to the fallen. They say a person dies twice, once when the heart stops beating and then the last time their name is said. So we went to keep on saying the names and remembering.”

He said there are some saying that highlight the purpose of the monument. “Say Their Name. Always Remember. Live a life worthy of their sacrifice.”

“I did not coin any of those phrases but I agree with it. I embrace it. To me, that’s what it should be about.”