Two Area 4th of July Events Get Underway Today

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Published on July 2 2015 2:09 pm
Last Updated on July 2 2015 2:09 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Two area events related to the 4th of July celebration get underway today.

The Herrick 4th of July Celebration will offer free carnival rides from 6-10pm today and Friday. Also tonight in Herrick, a flag ceremony will begin at 5:30pm Boy Scouts leading the ceremony. A church service will follow at 6pm with Heaven Bound and the Mighty Crush Power Team.

In Charleston, the Vietnam Traveling Wall is in place at Coles County Fairgrounds as part of the community's Red, White and Blue Days celebration.

The Traveling Wall is an 80% replica of the National Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. The Wall opened at noon Thursday and will remain open 24/7 until 3pm Sunday. An official opening ceremony will begin at 5:30pm with retired St. Rep. Mike Weaver serving as Master of Ceremonies. The Mattoon VFW Post #4325 will post the colors, SFC David Keefer of the Illinois National Guard will present the National Anthem, and retired Brigadier General Dan Cougill will lead in the Pledge of Allegiance. SFC Keefer, who is also the National Chaplain of the Warrior Brotherhood, will offer the opening prayer, and Charleston Mayor Larry Rennels and Mattoon Mayor Tim Gower will share in the reading of the names of area troops on the wall. Following the placing of memorial wreaths, retired Illinois State Police Trooper Gary Rollings will present a bagpipe tribute.

An evening ceremony will take place at 8pm Thursday with the retrieval of colors and Taps presented by Wayne Ladewig.

Ceremonies are also scheduled for noon and 8pm Friday, 11am, 6pm and 8pm Saturday, and 10am and 2pm Sunday.