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2023/11/06 - Mayor's Column: Veteran's Day

“AN OPEN DOOR TO O’FALLON”
A WEEKLY NOTE FROM MAYOR HERB ROACH
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Next Saturday, November 11th, we will honor all of our Veterans that have served our country’s military branches and protected our freedoms. Our City is so proud to have approximately 14% of our population having served.

While the State of Illinois ranks 10th among the 50 states in the nation for most Veterans with only about 4% of the population having served. This is in comparison with only about 5% of our country’s total population having served. O’Fallon, and the other communities surrounding Scott Air Force Base have a special connection with the military and Veterans.

This will be the 69th celebration of Veterans Day, which was previously called Armistice Day in celebration of the signing of the armistice which ended WWI.  It is also the 105th anniversary of the signing of the armistice.

Here in O’Fallon, we will remember our veterans in 3 different ways:

  1. At 11 AM on the 11th there will be a ceremony held by the Veterans Monument Committee at the First Baptist Church on Highway 50.
     
  2. At 2 PM the O’Fallon VFW will hold its Veterans Day Parade. It starts at Community Park, goes East on 3rd Street to South Lincoln where it will go North to 1st street and then East to the VFW.
     
  3. In addition to these activities, the Scouts place flags on the graves of our Veterans at several of our local cemeteries.

During this time when our troops have been attacked and placed in position to help others and defend our allies, it is very appropriate to say THANK YOU to those that serve and have served in our military to protect our freedoms.

For me personally, I will proudly remember my Father, Herbert R. Roach Sr., recipient of the Bronze Star during WWII and all of our other family members that have served.

I hope to see you at one of the above activities.

As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open.