McHenry County News
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Volume 5 Issue 47
By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent
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n Saturday, November 7, 2015, the Woodstock Harley-Davidson dealership holds a dedication ceremony for its Veteran’s Memorial. The memorial is sited close to the over-sized American Flag which the H-D dealership dedicated earlier this year. The audience is packed with veterans for this event. The parking lot is full and cars are still arriving. This community supports our military and is ready to show it. At the proper moment, the bugler, Donald Rhodes, sounds the call and we are all welcomed to the ceremony. The Invocation is spoken and the staff of Harley-Davidson carries out the Flag and presents it to the military Color Guard. We sing the National Anthem and the Color Guard raises the flag on the flagpole. The wind this morning is causing the flag to wave proudly. The speeches are all very powerful and moving. Lance Corporal Tim Crabb, veteran, originated the idea for this memorial, “War takes a part of your soul. This site means so much for so many. My father is just one of many who have served, In order for that symbol of freedom [the
November 19, 2015
US flag] to be recognized by people around the world…” [it needs to be respected and defended as such.] It is respected by those around its base today [members of the military]. In their hands its base is solid. I extend our sincere gratitude to HarleyDavidson.” Veteran Dustin Jackson says, “We sometimes struggle with re-acclimation. You can question whether or not you are ever going to do something this important again. Do people even care? This shows that people do care.” The most touching part of today’s event is the POW*MIA Memorial Table Ceremony. The following is the basic script used for these ceremonies. There are variations in each ceremony. “Ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention to the center of our gathering. You may have noticed the table set before you. It is filled with symbolism. I will explain. This table is set for our Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action – from all wars. They are not with us today. There are no chairs for no one will be sitting at this
See MEMORIAL, Page 2
photo by Anne Eickstadt
World War II veteran, Army Air Corps Sgt. Harold Crabb salutes the flag as it is raised.
Mistletoe Magic yearly event held for charity By Anne Eickstadt, Corresspondent
WOODSTOCK — Lines of people are waiting to enter the 31st Annual Mistletoe Magic Boutique and the Cake Walk across the hall at Grace Lutheran Church, Saturday morning, November
7. More people are constantly arriving in the minutes before the doors open This event is held yearly to raise money for local charities. “The church has put on a bazaar here every year. Members of the church make all the items, none of it is vendored,” Cathy Meyer, head of the chairing committee,
photo by Anne Eickstadt
The Chair committee for the Mistletoe Magic Boutique this year are Judy Railly, Sue Aavang, Cathy Meyer and Karen Reinhard.
tells me. “We work on it all year now. We start in January or February with brainstorming to figure out what we are going to make. We divide it into departments and we organize the people who sew, woodcrafters, knitters, felters. The Gourmet Food section has rubs, canned garden produce, pasta and so on. One lady creates 18 inch doll clothes. The size of an American Girl doll. She gave us 140 this year.” That explains why people can’t wait to get in. One-of-a-kind, hand-crafted items make perfect gifts. You know that no one else will duplicate your gift for Christmas, birthdays or other special occasions. “We have a donation/raffle table. It involves other people in the community. We sold 800 tickets last year and made over $1000,” Meyer says. “We made $24,000 last year. We gave it to three local charities in the community. This year, the charities are Turning Point of McHenry County, the Wednesday site of PADS and the DAP- Direct Assistance Program.” “PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) - On the fourth Wednesday of each month from October through April
Grace members prepare and serve dinner to homeless people who are staying at the emergency shelter at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation church. Check the poster in the narthex for ways you can contribute to the meals.” PADS can be found on Facebook at McHenry County PADS non-profit organization. “Turning Point is a domestic violence agency with a mission to confront violence against women and children in McHenry County, Illinois.” www. mchenrycountyturningpoint.org “DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM —The Direct Assistance Program (DAP) is operated by the Woodstock Area Community Ministry. WACM strives to provide emergency assistance to those families who need it most. Because of the tremendous growing needs of the community, DAP has had to cut back on its services due to a shortage of funds. You can help by making a regular donation to DAP using the white pew envelope. WACM is jointly operated by 12 local congregations and organizations, including Grace.” www. wacmgroup.org
See MAGIC, Page 4