2 posts tagged “illinois”

From The Courrier News

66-mile Road to be Dedicated Saturday to Honor Army 173rd Airborne Brigade

August 22, 2008

By Emily McFarlan Staff Writer

Army Pfc. Jacob Lowell of New Lenox was 22 years old, a gunner on a Humvee, when his unit was ambushed in Afghanistan in June 2007. Lowell was the first member of the U.S. Army, 173rd Airborne Brigade, killed in Afghanistan, according to Bob Getz.

Getz, of Elgin, was just a few years older than Lowell when he was deployed overseas with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. That was almost 40 years ago in Vietnam, and Getz was then an Army captain.

But the two "sky soldiers" may as well have fought alongside each other in the same war.

Getz said Lowell's death inspired the Elite Forces, Chapter VI of the international 173rd Airborne Brigade Association, to begin efforts to have Illinois 173 designated in honor of the brave men and women who have fought with the brigade.

On Saturday, they will travel the newly designated 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway in a motorcade from Zion to Loves Park to thank communities along the 66-mile stretch for their help to make that happen.

"This is not a memorial highway," said Getz, secretary of the Elite Forces. "It's a living highway for those who live and those who have died -- everyone who has served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. This is for the guys and gals yesterday, today and tomorrow."

Getz said he expects some of those "guys and gals" to ride in more than 150 vehicles along the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway, which runs east and west across northern Illinois near the Wisconsin border. The motorcade will include several motorcycle groups, two Chinook helicopters, local emergency vehicles and veteran organizations. It will stop in Antioch, Hebron, Harvard and Loves Park, beginning at 8 a.m. at Illinois 173 and Sheridan Road in Zion.

The Elite Forces first visited those communities last fall to ask them to pass resolutions in support of renaming the route. With the support of their resolutions, the Elite Forces managed to get a joint resolution passed through the Illinois General Assembly May 28.

"That was pretty exciting," Getz said. "It was neat that our state legislators, in a time when there's been a little bit of divisiveness, were able to work together and pass this joint resolution unanimously."

It wasn't hard, according to state Rep. Ruth Munson, R-Elgin. Munson, one of the resolution's 30 co-sponsors, said many state legislators were "moved by the sentiment."

"When Bob Getz brought this to me and told me the history of the 173rd Airborne Brigade ... I thought this was a great way to honor those who had served on our behalf, and I was happy to support the initiative," she said. "I think we owe them a great debt of gratitude, and this is a small honor we can give them."

Red, white and blue signs along marking the route as the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway were completed last weekend, just as members of the brigade are currently rotating out of a second deployment to Afghanistan.

When not stationed along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the 173rd Airborne Brigade is based out of Italy and Germany. Originally formed in 1917 during World War I, Getz said, it continues to be "one of America's most effective parachute infantry units."

"I don't know how many (members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade) will be in the area, but we said if you are anywhere between Chicago and Rockford, Madison and Milwaukee, come and join us," he said.

I'm kinda thinkin' I know someone from the Madison, WI area who's on this wonderful ride today.

Many many thanks to the Elite Forces, Chapter VI of the international 173rd Airborne Brigade Association for making this a reality.

H/T LIG