McHenry County News FRE
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11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115 • (815) 654-4850 • www.McHenrycountynewspaper.com Display Advertising & Classifieds: 815-654-4850 • Circulation: 815-654-4854 • E-mail:McHenrynews@rvpublishing.com
Volume 5 Issue 39
September 24, 2015
To Advertise In This Space Call 815-654-4850
photos courtesy of Wreaths Across America
The VFW Post 4600 Ladies Auxiliary, McHenry, IL, will be placing wreaths at McHenry County locations. This will be the first year that McHenry County organizations are participating in this event.
Wreaths Across America N
By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent
ormally, I like to take my holidays one at a time. I don’t want to hear about Halloween before Labor Day or Christmas before Halloween. However, if you want to participate in this Christmas event, you have to meet the October 15 deadline. So, Merry Christmas, everyone! In September. National Wreaths Across America Day is celebrated on the second Saturday in December. This year, that date falls on December 12. This event began several years ago, in 1992, when “a Christmas tree farmer in Maine found that he had a surplus of wreaths – decided to place them at Arlington National Cemetery in the oldest section so none of the veterans would be forgotten.” The Christmas tree farmer is Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine. “With the help of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, arrangements were made for the wreaths to be placed at
Arlington in one of the oldest sections of the cemetery, a section which had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year.” With plans underway, “James Prout, owner of local trucking company, Blue Bird Ranch, Inc., generously provided transportation all the way to Virginia. Volunteers from the local American Legion and VFW Posts gathered with members of the community to decorate each wreath with hand-tied bows. Members of the Maine State Society of Washington D.C. helped to organize the wreath-laying, which included a special ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” This ceremony continued quietly for several years. In 2005, a photo of the wreaths adorning the snowcovered gravestones hit the internet. “Thousands of requests poured in from all over the country from people wanting to help with Arlington, to emulate the Arlington project at their National and State cemeteries or to simply share their stories and thank Morrill Worcester for honoring their
nation’s heroes.” “Unable to donate thousands of wreaths to each state, Worcester began sending seven wreaths to every state, one for each branch of the military and for POW/MIAs. In 2006, with the help of the Civil Air Patrol and other civic organizations, simultaneous wreath laying ceremonies were held at over 150 locations around the country. The Patriot Guard Riders volunteered as escort for the wreaths going to Arlington. This began the annual ‘Veterans Honor Parade’ that travels the east coast in early December.” “In 2014, Wreaths Across America and our national network of volunteers laid over 700,000 memorial wreaths at 1000 locations in the United States and beyond. We were able to include ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial as well as Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and the sites of the September 11 tragedies. We accomplished this with help from 2047 fundraising groups, corporate contributions, and donations of trucking, shipping and thousands of helping hands. Our goal of covering
Arlington National Cemetery was accomplished in 2014 with the placement of 226,525 wreaths.” “This year, the VFW Post 4600 Ladies Auxiliary, McHenry, IL, goal is to place wreaths at the following locations: St. John the Baptist Church Cemetary, The Woodland Cemetery and St. Mary of the Assumption Church Cemetery.” Each wreath costs $15.00. Sponsorship levels are: Individual = 1 wreath for $15.00; Family = 4 wreaths for $60.00; Small Business = 10 wreaths for $150.00 or Corporate = 100 wreaths for $1500.00. To donate wreaths for these McHenry County locations, please make out checks to : Wreaths Across America – a non-profit organization – and mail to: Cinde Prusko, 1807 Grandview Drive, Johnsburg, IL, 60051. If you have any questions, call 915.385.6835. Wreaths Across America can be found online at www. wreathsacrossamerica.org
‘Rusty Gold’ Collector Cars to be auctioned Oct. 2 and 3 By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent
They might not appear impressive to the general public but collectors and rehabbers will positively jump for joy at the opportunity to buy the autos in the “Rusty Gold” Auction. Scheduled for the first weekend in October, the “Rusty Gold” Auction features over 600 vehicles from the collection of Lew Lazarus. Lazarus is the general manager of Collector Cars, Ltd. It is a family owned business that has been in the auto business
for 102 years. Collector Cars, Ltd. will continue to thrive for many years. However, they are anticipating the arrival of a new shipment of cars and have run out of room to put them! Therefore, they are clearing up space in their lots by auctioning off their lifetime collection of classic cars. Starting in 1913, Lew’s father operated a GM dealership. He ran it until he died 60 years later. The family continued with dealerships in Forreston and Oregon, Illinois. Owning the dealerships gave the Laza-
rus family many opportunities to collect cars from off the lot and from trade-ins. Lew, himself, has been featured in many articles over the years. The “Rusty Gold” Auction will include a ’25 Flint, a ’41 Packard coupe with dual side mounts, a ’41 Packard limo Le Baron body – 1 of only 7 ever manufactured, a ’49 Cadillac convertible and a Henney World War II military ambulance. In an unprecedented event, 2 other Henneys will also be sold
See CARS, Page 16
photo by Anne Eickstadt
A classic 2 seater convertible is up for sale at the upcoming Rusty Gold Auction.