Gold Star Mother Vonda Rodgers, the mother of Army Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers, speaks following the Gold Star 500. Joshua Rodgers was killed in action on April 27, 2017 in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. The Gold Star 500 riders arrived at the Great Lakes Community Center, part of the Naval Station Great Lakes near North Chicago, Illinois, on Sept. 24. Several Illinois National Guard active and retired service members participate in the ride that raises awareness of the approximately 300 Illinois service members who have fallen since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, including 34 members of the Illinois National Guard. This year's Gold Star 500 included 16 Polish riders who learned of the 5-day event through the Illinois National Guard's State Partnership Program with the Polish military. The Polish riders included seven Polish Army Soldiers, six students and three Polish Gold Star Family members. The Illinois Army National Guard co-deployed with Polish first to Iraq and then to Afghanistan for 17 years.
Date Taken: | 09.24.2022 |
Date Posted: | 09.25.2022 14:55 |
Photo ID: | 7434809 |
VIRIN: | 220924-A-OH563-975 |
Resolution: | 1848x2585 |
Size: | 634.11 KB |
Location: | GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS, US |
Web Views: | 26 |
Downloads: | 4 |
This work, Illinois National Guard Members, Polish Partners, participate in 500-mile Bicycle Ride to 'Always Remember' Our Fallen [Image 14 of 14], by LTC Bradford Leighton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.