Clinton County communities plan Memorial Day ceremonies to honor fallen service members
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal News Editor
23rd District Commander Mike Funneman Residents across Clinton County will gather Memorial Day weekend to honor the servicemen and servicewomen who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation.
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is observed as a day of remembrance for those who died while serving in the United States military.
Citizens can pay their respects and honor America’s great from past wars and service at several Memorial Day services in Clinton County this weekend.
A post-everlasting ceremony will be held Monday, May 25, at 10:30 a.m. (sharp) at Timmermann-Benhoff American Legion Post 252 in Breese.
Timmermann-Benhoff Post 252 will honor both their living and deceased members who represented the country during wars and conflicts.
Mike Funneman of Teutopolis will be the guest speaker at this year's Memorial Day program at Post 252 in Breese.
Mike Funneman was born and raised in Teutopolis. After high school, he enlisted in the Army National Guard as an indirect fire infantryman. Over a 22-year career, Funneman was deployed to Europe for force protection following Sept. 11, 2001. He joined the American Legion in 2002 and retired in 2006.
Funneman has served two terms as post commander and remains active in the post. At the district level, he has served as junior vice commander, senior vice commander, and commander, and served on three department committees.
Mike and his wife Cindy have been married for 38 years and have three children: Jenna, Aaron and Brandon.
The Legion will honor four members of the Legion who have recently passed — Thomas Huelskamp, Paul Jansen, Ronald Lager and Anthony "Tony" Timmermann.
The Legion also will honor several deceased members of the Auxiliary — Shirley Berns, Audrey Johnson and Judy Pariseau.
The public is invited to attend a luncheon afterward, served by the Ladies Auxiliary.
Other communities in the area also are holding Memorial Day services:
•In Aviston, Memorial Day services will begin Sunday, May 24, with a 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Francis Catholic Church, followed by a march to the cemetery for the traditional placing of the wreath and a 21-gun salute. There will be a flag ceremony at Aviston American Legion Post 1239, honoring Legion members who have passed, and then a luncheon held at the Legion.
•In Beckemeyer, a ceremony to honor those who have died will be held Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Cemetery and a 10:30 a.m. ceremony will be held at the Beckemeyer Village Cemetery, sponsored by the American Legion Post 1227 Drill Team and Honor Guard.
•In Carlyle, a Memorial Day service will be held Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at the Carlyle Cemetery. Vietnam Veterans of Clinton County Chapter 269 and Carlyle VFW Post 3523 are putting on the ceremony, which includes a flag raising ceremony, provided by the Carlyle Cub and Boy Scouts. The "National Anthem" will be performed by Carlyle High School students, directed by Ms. Sanker. John Barrett will serve as the master of ceremonies. Retired U.S. Army Col. Rachele Smith will be the guest speaker. (More information on Smith can be found on Page 1A). Pastor Jason McIntosh will give the invocation and benediction. Carlyle High School students will perform the musical selection.
Vietnam Veterans Chapter 269 and Carlyle VFW 3523 will give a Salute to the Dead, as well as the placing of the wreaths. Mike Wilton and Echo Don Diamond will perform "Taps." In the event of rain, the services will be held at Carlyle VFW.
Special thanks to Cub Scout Pack 281 for helping place flags on the cemetery graves. If a flag is unintentionally missed, additional flags are at the Memorial Monument.
•In New Baden, New Baden American Legion Post 321 will be holding Memorial Day services Sunday, May 24, at 12:30 p.m. at New Baden Community Park. In the event of inclement weather, the services will be held at the American Legion in New Baden. Everyone is invited to the Post following the ceremony for a light luncheon.•In Trenton, a Memorial Day ceremony will be held Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at Trenton Community Park by the flagpoles. The event is hosted by Trenton American Legion Post 778 and Trenton Sons of American Legion. Everyone is invited.
Retired Army Col. Rachele Smith to speak at Carlyle Memorial Day service
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- Written by: Submitted
Retired U.S. Army Col. Rachele Smith A Memorial Day service will be held Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at Carlyle Cemetery.
The ceremony is being presented by Vietnam Veterans of Clinton County Chapter 269 and Carlyle VFW Post 3523. The event will include a flag-raising ceremony provided by the Carlyle Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.
The National Anthem will be performed by the Carlyle High School Music Department under the direction of Ms. Sanker. John Barrett will serve as master of ceremonies.
The guest speaker will be Retired U.S. Army Col. Rachele Smith.
Pastor Jason McIntosh will deliver the invocation and benediction. Carlyle High School students will also perform a musical selection. Vietnam Veterans Chapter 269 and Carlyle VFW Post 3523 will present the Salute to the Dead and participate in the placing of wreaths. Mike Wilton and Echo Don Diamond will perform "Taps."
In the event of rain, services will be moved to the Carlyle VFW. Organizers also extended special thanks to Cub Scout Pack 281 for helping place flags on cemetery graves. Additional flags will be available at the Memorial Monument if any graves were unintentionally missed.
Smith, a native of Bartelso and daughter of Phil and Carol Menkhaus, graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Eastern Illinois University (EIU) and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps in 1992.
She graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1987, earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kaskaskia College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Science degree in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University.
During her more than 27-year Army career, Smith served throughout the United States and overseas, including a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, combat tours supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and humanitarian missions around the world. She retired with the rank of colonel.
Following her military retirement, Smith worked in Jacksonville, Florida, as director of the Warrior Care Network for the Wounded Warrior Project before returning home to southern Illinois.
She currently works at Aviston Grade School, serves as president of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Clinton County, and volunteers with Whispering Pines of Clinton County.
Throughout her military career, Smith held numerous leadership positions in hospital administration, patient administration, health information management and medical operations.
Her command assignments included leadership roles in Germany, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Fort Benning, Georgia, where she led the 14th Combat Support Hospital during Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
Her military honors include two Legion of Merit awards, two Bronze Star Medals, seven Meritorious Service Medals, and numerous commendations and service awards.
Smith also is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
Knights score five times to walk it off over rival Cougars
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- Written by: Breese Journal Sports Report
Over to one — Central sophomore infielder Lincoln Radake sends a throw to first base in the second inning of the Cougar’s 11-0 win over visiting Red Bud on Monday. Radake was 2-for-2 with four runs batted in. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Mater Dei baseball team picked up one of their biggest wins of the season on Saturday when they walked off the rival Cougars with five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
They also beat New Athens while dropping games to Mascoutah and North Clay. They are 14-17 on the season.
MD hosted Civic Memorial on Tuesday before hosting Christ Our Rock on Wednesday and DuQuoin on Thursday.
Before blowing a five-run lead to MD on Saturday, Central had won six games in a row, including wins over North Clay, Red Bud and Waltonville.
Central is now 24-8 overall and were scheduled to play at home with Gibault on Monday and home again with Litchfield on Wednesday. They end the regular season with a home game with O’Fallon on Friday.
Mater Dei 8, Central 7: The Mater Dei baseball team rebounded from a 7-0 deficit to score eight unanswered runs to beat Central on Saturday.
Central scored six runs in the first inning and one run in the second inning to take a 7-0 lead.
Mater Dei pitcher Ethan Wheelan kept the Cougars off the scoreboard the rest of the game.
Mater Dei scored two runs in the third inning, one run in the sixth inning and five runs in the seventh inning for the victory.
Kyler Von Bokel doubled to start the bottom of the seventh inning for Mater Dei. Andrew Sinnock singled and Luke Etheridge was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. With one out, Jack Reynolds singled to score Von Bokel.
Avery Strader reached on an error to score both Sinnock and Etheridge to get the Knights within 7-6. Adrian Rendon singled to score Reynolds and tie the game 7-7. Hayden Melone doubled to score Strader with the winning run.
Central took early command of the game with six runs in the top of the first inning. Bryce Wieter had a two-RBI double with one out to put the Cougars up 2-0. Max Albers had an RBI single to score Wieter. Lincoln Radake was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Craig Schroeder and put Central up 4-0.
With two outs, Conlan Haar was walked with the bases loaded to score Kaden Henss. Albers scored on a passed ball to put Central up 6-0.
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