Organizers Don Paulsen and Dwain Adkins explained the community service aspects of their veterans’ groups and the meaning they have for residents at this week’s Rotary meeting.  Paulsen is part of the American Legion Riders motorcycle group.  Adkins holds several different responsibilities with Post 99 of the Sycamore American Legion and is a main organizer for the Courthouse Honor Guard which carries out the 24-hour “veterans honoring veterans” vigil held the Friday and Saturday before Veterans Day.

 

Paulsen said the motorcycle group helps veterans, children, and the community.  One of their events is an annual Motorcycle Motorcade where they visit eight area retirement centers to make contact with veterans.  He said the oldest veteran they’ve met was a 106-year-old woman.  He said their Toy Run ahead of Christmas has raised as much as $20,000  in sponsorships for toys and other items for needy children  Riders participating in the event pay $10 and bring a toy to contribute to the cause.  Paulsen said the group has also partnered with other various non-profits for charitable causes.  One of those is “Ride Janie Ride” to help families that have someone undergoing cancer treatment.

 

Adkins explained he got involved with the Courthouse vigil in 2013 when the founding Viet Now organization began to have problems with staffing it.  He said he’s seen participants grow beyond just Viet Nam veterans, going from 20 volunteers to 42 this year.  He pointed out that  this is a totally separate event from actual Veterans Day celebrations.  With the growth of participation, Adkins said he is pursuing a standard jacket for all involved to wear showing their unity with each other regardless of their branch of service or period of service.  Adkins himself proudly noted five generations of his family serving in the military beginning with his grandfather in World War I through his grandson who has just entered ROTC training.  Adkins also showed Rotarians plaques posted by the local Legion on the founding dates of the various branches of service as well as key memorial service dates.

Tickets are $25.00 each and we have a total of 600 tickets to sell. Three winning tickets for the following amounts will be drawn during the Rotary Holiday Party on 12/20/2023:

November 12, 1929 – Grace Kelly, award-winning actress who left Hollywood to marry Prince Ranier of Monaco, is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

November 14, 1815 – American inventor and engineer Robert Fulton, who developed the first commercial steamboat, is born in Little Britain, Pennsylvania.

 

November 18, 1901 – George Gallup, American survey sampling pioneer and inventor of the Gallup poll, is born in Jefferson, Iowa.

 

November 18, 1923 – American astronaut and first American in space, Alan Sheperd, is born in Derry, New Hampshire.

November 14, 1856 – American Gail Borden is issued a patent for technology related to his invention of condensed milk.  His invention was particularly crucial during the Civil War, providing a reliable source of milk to Union troops.

 

November 15, 1881 – The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada is formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Five years later it is renamed the American Federation of Labor (AFL).

 

November 17, 1558 – Queen Elizabeth I ascended the throne of England at the age of 25 (reigning until her death at age 69).

 

November 17, 1869 – The Suez Canal was formally opened after more than ten years of construction.