Gold Star Families Honored at Chicago Rush Arena Football Game

By 1st Lt. April Hawes, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

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ROSEMONT , IL (07/05/2012)(readMedia)-- Soldiers and families of fallen Illinois National Guardsmen were honored in front of 6,500 people at the Chicago Rush arena football game June 30 at All State Arena in Rosemont.

"It was a real honor," said Officer Candidate Adam Kowalski of Darien with the 129th Regional Training Institute in Springfield. "I always wanted to join the military and being part of a ceremony like this added meaning to why I joined."

During half-time of the football game, the American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation, along with Brig. Gen. Steven Huber of Chicago, Land Component Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, presented three Illinois National Guard Gold Star Families with a plaque featuring their fallen Soldier, which will be part of the American Fallen Warrior Memorial Wall in Kansas City, Kan.

Families in attendance for the presentation were:

Jim and Carole Ann Frazier. Jim is the father of Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier of St. Charles, who was assigned to the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria and killed in action March 29, 2003 in Afghanistan.

Bill, his wife Jean and his daughter Kalyn Harris. Bill is the father, Jean is the step-mother and Kalyn is the sister of Sgt. Joshua Harris of Romeoville, who was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery in Robbins and killed in action Sept. 17, 2008 in Afghanistan.

Sue Weinger and her friend Ray. Sue is the mother of Sgt. Robert Weinger of Round Lake Beach who was assigned to 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment in Woodstock and killed in action March 17, 2009 in Afghanistan.

"I knew Sergeant Harris from going to military schools together," said Sgt. Dane Ludvigsen of Lockport with Company G, Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP) in Marseilles. "Most Soldiers don't get the chance to do something like this. It was a great honor."

Before the game, Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers provided a color guard. Additionally Staff Sgt. Daniel Neville of Lockport, also with Company G, RSP in Marseilles, was recognized as a hometown hero for his accomplishments as the top Illinois Army National Guard recruiter for the first and second quarters this fiscal year.

Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Murphy, Illinois National Guard Recruiting and Retention, also contributed to this story.

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148: (right) Staff Sgt. Daniel Neville of Lockport, with Company G, Recruit Sustainment Program in Marseilles, was recognized at the Chicago Rush arena football game June 30 in Rosemont as a hometown hero for his accomplishments as the top Illinois Army National Guard recruiter for the first and second quarters this fiscal year.

175: (left) Jim Frazier and his wife Carole Ann were presented a plaque at the Chicago Rush arena football game June 30 in Rosemont by Brig. Gen. Steven Huber of Chicago, land component commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, in honor of Frazier's son, Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier of St. Charles, who was assigned to the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria and killed in action March 29, 2003 in Afghanistan.

179: (left) Bill, Jean and Kalyn Harris were presented a plaque at the Chicago Rush arena football game June 30 in Rosemont by Brig. Gen. Steven Huber of Chicago, land component commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, in honor of Bill's son, Sgt. Joshua Harris of Romeoville, who was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery in Robbins and killed in action Sept. 17, 2008 in Afghanistan.

183: (left) Sue Weinger and her friend Ray were presented a plaque at the Chicago Rush arena football game June 30 in Rosemont by Brig. Gen. Steven Huber of Chicago, land component commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, in honor of Sue's son, Sgt. Robert Weinger of Round Lake Beach with 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment in Woodstock and killed in action March 17, 2009 in Afghanistan.