Press Release - Sunday, September 24, 2006
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GOLD STAR MOTHERS DAY 2006 MOTHERS OF ILLINOIS' FALLEN RECEIVE GOLD STAR BANNERS
(CHICAGO) - Today, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn presented Gold Star Banners to 25 Illinois mothers whose sons or daughters have died while on active duty in the Global War on Terror at the Gold Star Mothers Day ceremony at Navy Pier and reunited with 49 mothers from the 2003, 2004, and 2005 Gold Star Mothers ceremonies.
Special Gold Star Banners were presented to the families of two Army Air Force soldiers from Chicago:
2 LT David Nelson and CAPT Vladimir Sasko who had been listed as Missing-in-Action for 62 years - since World War II - until their remains were identified earlier this year. On August 2006, 2 LT David Nelson was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. In December 2005, CAPT Vladimir Sasko was laid to rest in Chicago.
A Special Gold Star Banner was also presented to the family of Army PFC Justin King - a dedicated soldier who, despite a cancer diagnosis, wanted to continue serving his county. He died last August at 29 years old, and was laid to rest with full military honors in Robinson, Illinois.
"American Gold Star Mothers are those whose sons or daughters served and died so that this world might be a better place to live," said Quinn. "It is proclaimed a day to honor the memory of those whose lives were sacrificed in the wars of the United States, and a public expression of the love, sorrow, and reverence of the people of the United States for the American Gold Star Mothers."
Quinn was also joined by Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Kenneth Preston and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SMMC) John Estrada - the highest ranking enlisted servicemembers of each branch. Roy Dolgas, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs; Louie Gonzalez, Commander of the American Legion of Illinois; Lisa Moeller, President of the USO of Illinois; Chicago Alderman James Balcer and Cameron Schilling, the 23-year-old artist who drew the Portrait of a Soldier memorial, were also in attendance.
Following the ceremony at a private reception, families had an opportunity to view the Portrait of a Soldier memorial - a series of hand-drawn portraits of the Illinois men and women who have died in service to our country since September 11, 2001.
Also, each Gold Star mother received a quilt knitted in memory of her son or daughter by volunteers with the "Home of the Brave Quilt Project", a statewide initiative to make memorial quilts for families of fallen Illinois servicemembers who lost their lives in the Global War on Terror.
Presenting Gold Stars to mothers is an American tradition that dates back to 1918. The Gold Star Mothers organization was named after the Gold Star that families hung in their windows in honor of a fallen servicemember.
To date, 140 Illinois servicemen and women have lost their lives in the Global War on Terror. Currently, more than 4,100 Illinois National Guard members and reservists are serving on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.
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2006 Gold Star Recipients
|
MOTHER |
SON/DAUGHTER |
DATE KIA |
HOMETOWN |
|
Angela Martinez
(sister) |
U.S. Army SPC Miguel Carrasquillo |
08-09-05 |
River Grove |
|
Esther Grijalva |
U.S. Army SPC James Grijalva |
10-12-05 |
Burbank |
|
Nita Cross |
U.S. Army SFC Kyle Wehrly |
11-03-05 |
Galesburg |
|
Linda Terando |
U.S. Army SGT Joshua Terando |
11-10-05 | Morris |
|
Jeannie Terando
(Stepmother) |
U.S. Army SGT Joshua Terando |
11-10-05 |
Morris |
|
Sandy Ochsner |
U.S. Army SFC James Ochsner |
11-15-05 |
Waukegan |
|
Kathleen Alcozer |
U.S. Army PVT Christopher Alcozer |
11-19-05 | Villa Park |
|
Judy Alcozer
(Stepmother) |
U.S. Army PVT Christopher Alcozer |
11-19-05 |
Villa Park |
|
Kristen Kaiser |
U.S. Marine Corps Lance CPL Adam Kaiser |
12-01-05 |
Naperville |
|
Gayle Naschansky |
U.S. Marine Corps Lance CPL Andrew Patten |
12-01-05 |
Byron |
|
Shirley Wright |
U.S. Army SPC Brian Wright |
12-06-05 |
Keensburg |
|
Cheryl Price |
U.S. Marine Corps Lance CPL Jonathan Price |
01-13-06 |
Woodlawn |
|
Barbara Cardelli |
U.S. Marine Corps PFC Sean Cardelli |
02-01-06 |
Downers Grove |
|
Smila Franks |
U.S. Army Staff SGT Edwin Dazachacon |
02-13-06 |
Belleville |
|
Laura Martini |
U.S. Marine Corps Lance CPL Philip Martini |
04-08-06 |
Lansing |
|
Cathy Zehren |
U.S. Army CPL Shawn Laswell |
04-23-06 |
Alton |
|
Nancy Komes |
U.S. Marine Corps SGT Edward Davis |
04-28-06 |
Antioch |
|
Lynn Donaldson |
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2
Christopher Donaldson |
05-05-06 |
Effingham |
|
Debra Gebur |
U.S. Army SPC Ronald Gebur |
05-13-06 |
Delevan |
|
Janis Cummings |
U.S. Marine Corps CPL Ryan Cummings |
06-03-06 |
Streamwood |
|
Carmella Rovinski |
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Gary Rovinski |
06-05-06 |
Roseville |
|
Concepcion Cuaresma |
U.S. Army SGT Sirlou Cuaresma |
06-21-06 |
Chicago |
|
Monique Bievre |
U.S. Army Staff SGT Mario Bievre |
06-23-06 |
Glendale Heights |
|
Sally Nation |
U.S. Army CPL Ryan Buckley |
06-23-06 |
Nokomis |
|
Lorrie Fleming |
U.S. Army SGT Terry Lisk |
06-26-06 |
Fox Valley |
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