VietNow POW/MIA ceremony is Saturday
DIXON – The Rock River Valley Chapter of VietNow’s 24th annual POW/MIA Christmas tree lighting and vigil will be held Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park, on Palmyra Road on the west edge of town.
The group will light a red bulb for each missing Illinois Vietnam vet, and an orange bulb for veterans missing from the wars in Southwest Asia. Bulbs also will be lighted for those missing from World War II and the Korean War.
The tree will remain lighted throughout the holidays.
The vigil begins at noon, with a grand lighting ceremony at about 6 p.m. The theme is “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.”
The schedule
n Noon: Bulb lighting begins with the reading of names, vigil guards standing at parade rest and the lighting of bulbs. This will take place at 15-minute intervals throughout the day.
n 6 p.m.: Grand lighting ceremony. Lighting of bulbs by special guests. The Gulf War, Korean and World War II bulbs will be lighted.
n 6:05 p.m.: The remembrance table, which portrays a family’s sentiment about having an empty holiday table, will be presented.
n 6:10 p.m.: A message on keeping the POW issue a current event topic will be presented.
n 6:15 p.m.: There will be a candle presentation by members of the audience, then Christmas carols will be sung. An unveiling of a POW in a tiger cage will take place.
Call Rich Sanders at 815-288-5093 for more information.
