Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) | Photo Courtesy of Sue Rezin Facebook
Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) | Photo Courtesy of Sue Rezin Facebook
State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Peru, in a social media post this week, highlighted the 19th annual Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run ceremony for the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles.
"It was an honor to speak at the 19TH ANNUAL ILLINOIS MOTORCYCLE FREEDOM RUN ceremony for the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles," Rezin wrote.
In April, Marseilles City Council gave its nod for the 19th annual Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run to roll on, according to WCMY.com, and Anna Russo, vice president of the Middle East Conflict Wall Memorial, told the website that riders left the Grundy County Fairgrounds at 10:30 a.m. to arrive at the memorial for an event to add 13 names to the wall. In a post on social media, Rezin noted that she was honored to take part in the event.
“This is a special ceremony to recognize the Gold Star families and their loved ones that lost their life defending our country,” Rezin said in the Facebook post. “To a fallen hero, you shall never be forgotten. Although you may be gone from this world, your spirit will live forever. It lives in us here today. It lives in the eyes of laughing children who are free from want and oppression. It will serve as a reminder of the bravery and conviction of those who still struggle for liberty today.”
Rezin, according to her Facebook post, also noted that Americans should pledge to cherish the freedom that the soldiers listed on the wall died to protect.
Gold Star families visiting the memorial will find it easier to find the names of their loved ones, according to Shaw Local News Network, which noted kiosks have been installed that can help visitors find the names and locations of every soldier’s name on the wall.
The Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run noted on its website that the event was held for the first time on June 19, 2004, when the granite memorial honoring soldiers who lost their lives in Middle East conflicts was moved 65 miles from Summit to Marseilles, with more than 12,000 motorcycles joining the procession as an honor guard.
The procession wound from Summit to Marseilles, and motorcycles two deep rumbled past for nearly an hour as people lined the route, waving flags with tear-streaked eyes, according to the website, a fitting tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Middle East.
Alerts Sign-up