Springfield –-(ENEWSPF)–May 22, 2015. “On Monday, May 25, people across Illinois will observe Memorial Day – a time when we remember those who died while serving in the military and we honor their service and sacrifice,” said Erica Jeffries, Army veteran and Director, Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “Memorial Day is an important moment in our civic life when we reflect on the real and human costs of war. We thank all our veterans for their service and we at IDVA remain on duty, ready to help them. We encourage our veterans to contact us, or visit our Stand Up And Be Counted website, so we help them get the benefits they have earned through service.”
Cities, communities, and organizations across the country are hosting Memorial Day weekend parades, events, and activities. Director Jeffries will be attending and participating in the following Memorial Day events:
Chicago Memorial Day Celebration, Sat., May 23:
• The Wreath Laying Ceremony begins at 11am at the Eternal Flame on Daley Center Plaza.
• City of Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade begins at Noon from Lake Street to Van Buren Street.
The four Illinois Veterans’ Homes will honor Memorial Day for residents, family members, staff and guests:
• Fri., May 22, Quincy Home’s Memorial Day program and picnic. IDVA Acting Chief of Staff Gwen Diehl attending.
• Mon., May 25, Manteno Home’s Memorial Day program for residents, Veterans Hall. Internal event.
• Mon., May 25, Anna Home’s Memorial Day Cookout for residents. Internal event.
• Sat., May 30 LaSalle Home’s Memorial Day program, 1:30 p.m. Activity Room
“We encourage veterans, their families, and interested citizens to attend local events and show their support.” Jeffries added.
Veterans and their family members can visit our Stand Up And Be Counted website, or call 1-800- 437-9824. A Veteran Service Officer will contact them within two business days of the request.
In the last fiscal year the IDVA’s VSO helped veterans throughout Illinois to get more than $127 million in new and retroactive benefits from the US Department of Veterans Affairs for service-related conditions at no cost to the veteran or their family members. They are trained and accredited by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to provide free assistance to veterans and their dependents and survivors. This includes not only applying for federal and state benefits but also providing resources related to Health Care, Education and Training, Employment, Burial and Survivor benefits, Housing, Permits Transportation, Military Records, and more.
Memorial Day began three years after the Civil War ended, and was initially known as “Decoration Day”. Following the horrors of World War I, Decoration Day was expanded to honor the memories of those who died in all Americans wars, and in 1971 Memorial Day was declared a national holiday, observed annually on the last Monday in May. In 2000, “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” which “encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation,” was enacted.
Source: illinois.gov
