Will County News

President Obama speaks to the crowd at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.  President Obama directed everyone back to their cars because of lightning and heavy rain. President Obama, Memorial Day Service 2010 at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery An honor guard at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony Flags at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Flags and the crowd at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Memorial Day 2010 MP Officer, Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Memorial Day 2010

President Obama will participate in the Memorial Day Service today at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. Pace buses are currently busing the public from a parking lot  to the cemetery. Will County Sheriff Officers help direct Pace shuttle buses to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.  Pictured is the entrance to the cemetery at Rt. 53 and Hoff Road. An American Legion Post prepares to conduct a Memorial Day Service at a local Elwood Cemetery.  In the background, a police office directs traffic to the parking lot for the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Day Service. A police office directs traffic to the parking lot for the Memorial Day Ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. A large crowd is expected to turn out to see President Obama.   Pace buses shuttle people from the parking lot to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery has released information for those planning on attending Memorial Day Services on May 31, 2010.  President Obama will participate in the ceremony . Instructions for attending the service include information regarding parking and security. The event is free and open to the public and no tickets are required. For those living in Chicago and areas north of the cemetery who may want to take the train in and then have someone pick them up, the closest Metra stations are in Joliet and Manhattan.  For those driving, you will park at West Baseline Rd and Mississippi Ave. in Elwood, IL, and then be shuttled in by bus to the cemetery.  Buses will also take you back to your car at the end of the ceremony. According to the Instructions, carpooling is stronly encouraged.

According to a press release on whitehouse.gov, President Barack Obama will participate in the 2010 Memorial Day ceremony at  Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery  in Elwood, Illinois. From the press release:  " WASHINGTON—On Thursday, May 27, President Barack Obama and his family will travel to Chicago, where they will spend the weekend.  On Monday, the President will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois." On May 30, 2005, then U.S. Senator Obama participated in the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony, his first visit to the National Cemetery located about an hour south of Chicago. Here is a map of Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois: View Larger Map Here are scanned images of the Program for the 2005 Memorial Day Ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.  Obama gave the Memorial Day Address at the May 30, 2005 Ceremony.   Image of the inside

The sacrifice of many will be recalled during the annual Reed Township Memorial Day Program in Braidwood, Illinois . Sponsored by the American Legion Koca Post 39, the ceremony begins at 9 a.m., at the Reed Township Veterans Memorial on   Main Street , directly a cross from the   Braidwood   City Hall on Monday. Speakers will be State  Rep. Careen Gordon and Braidwood Mayor Sue Grygiel. The Invocation will be by Rev. Kurt Ulmer of   Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church . The “Star Spangled Banner” will be presented by the  Reed Custer Music Department Madrigal Choir.      American Legion   Koca Post # 39  Commander James Canup will welcome everyone. Each of the Armed Forces songs will be played, with veterans from each branch standing during the song. Placing of the wreath, Taps, closing remarks and benediction will close the ceremony, following by everyone singing, “God Bless America.”

WILMINGTON ILLINOIS— The Island City Memorial will honor all who have worked, fought or served our country. Wilmington resident Bert Niehls is spearheading the movement to construct the memorial. With nearly 200 memorial stones already sold, the project near the entrance to North Island Park is moving forward, he said.   The memorial will feature three large standing pieces of black marble, with the emblems of all six branches of the military service. The marble will be imported from Italy. The centerpiece of the memorial will read: “ In honored memory of all who have fallen and all who have served for our freedom."   The 100-foot flagpole was rescued from the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant and is also a focal point of the memorial. Some 200 stones have already been sold. Those still wishing to remember the sacrifice of their loved ones may contact Niehls at (815) 560-1039. The cost is $100 for the memorial stone, which includes engraving. Each stone can carry up to six line

The United States Department of Agriculture has placed a video on YouTube showing how American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds are being used at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie : The video shows several young adults cutting brush in order to prevent the  brush from invading Midewin's areas of restored tallgrass prairie. Furthermore, the office of Will County Executive Larry Walsh recently released a press release   stating Will County has been awarded a 3.1 million dollar energy efficiency and conservation block  grant by the Department of Energy, which  received funding from the American Recovery and  Reinvestment Act. The press release, dated April 12, 2010, also states: " JOLIET, Illinois – Will County Executive Larry Walsh announced that Will County is the  recipient of a $3.1 million grant from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) which will  be used to fund many County energy efficiency initiatives including a Gas-to-Energy plant,  energy