Gold Star families to be honored Sept. 23 at Gold Star Mission closing ceremonies

On Saturday, Sept. 23, the St. Charles Veterans Support Group is hosting the closing ceremonies for the Gold Star Mission 500 in Mount St. Mary Park, off Route 31 in St. Charles.

Honored guests include Gold Star families of 34 Illinois National Guardsmen from across the state who were killed during the wars in Iraq/Afghanistan.

Thirty-four cyclists are riding 500 miles across four days from Cairo, Illinois to St. Charles, arriving at their final destination at approximately 3 to 3:30 p.m. at Mount St. Mary Park.

St. Charles' Sammy's Bikes will meet the cyclists in Oswego and escort them in.

Their effort, in part, commemorates the service of the 34 who lost their lives in service to the nation and, in part, serves to create the pain of extreme sacrifice and the joy of the bonds of friendship experienced by those who serve.

Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier of St. Charles was the first Illinois Guard to be killed in action. The closing ceremony and dinner is reserved for the honored guests and dignitaries.

Gold Star Mission has launched a scholarship fund in the name of each the service member killed in action.

To make a donation, visit www.goldstarmission.org or www.facebook.com/Goldstar500/.

To support the St. Charles Veterans Support Group, checks may be made out to American Legion Post 342, 1150 N. Fifth Ave., St. Charles IL 60174. Follow www.facebook.com/stcharlesveterans/.

The St. Charles Veterans Support Group, a local nonprofit, is comprised of all three local veteran posts, St. Charles Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5036, American Legion Post 342, and AMVETS Post 503.