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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Revving Up The Spirits Of Senior Veterans In DeKalb County

Jessie Schlacks / WNIJ

Northern Illinois community members took to the streets to honor local veterans over the weekend.

It’s the fifth year local police and fire officials escorted a motorcade to several DeKalb County retirement homes. 

Residents of the facilities lined the sidewalk as the veterans’ names and service were read aloud. 

Robert Roe works at Pine Acres in DeKalb. He says it's important to raise spirits of the residents.

“We try and do things to keep our residents involved – involved in the community, and recognizing things that they’ve done in their lives," Roe said.

Frank Beierlotzer is an organizer of the motorcade. He says it had a lower turnout of participants because of rain, but the event was still worth having.

“In the military you work, rain or shine in the weather, and so why not do that when we honor them [veterans]?”

Credit Jessie Schlacks / WNIJ
Event organizer Frank Beierlotzer's motorcycle adorned with an American Flag in honor of senior veterans.

Beierlotzer says the event has grown over the years; it started with one retirement home stop, and has since grown to eight sites.

The locations visited were Pine Acres Rehab & Living Center, Barb City Manor, DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center, Heritage Woods, Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center, Bethany Healthcare & Rehab Center, Grand Victorian of Sycamore, and Lincolnshire Place.