The Monmouth American Legion Post 136 will be hosting their annual Veteran’s Day Program on Monday, November 11th beginning at 9:45 a.m. The event will also air live on WRAM AM 1330/FM 95.7 and online at radiomonmouth.com.
The Monmouth College band will be performing patriotic songs from 9:45 to 10 am and begin the program with the National Anthem. The program features Tom Best as the keynote presenter who is best known for teaching American History to 7th grade students for over 20 years in the Monmouth-Roseville school district. He also is a part-time instructor of the Civil War and Secondary Social Studies Methods courses at Monmouth College. He holds a master’s degree from Western Illinois University, is a member of the state board of the Illinois Council for the Social Studies, and continues to work on his book about Charles “Lonesome Charley” Reynolds, George Custer’s chief civilian scout, who was born in Warren County.
Best’s Veteran’s Day program will feature information about two Civil War Veterans from Warren County as well as a presentation regarding Bobby Dunlap who was a United States Marine Corps major who received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty as a captain of a rifle company during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. The statue on the Warren County Courthouse lawn is in memory of Bobby Dunlap.
The program will conclude with a 21-gun salute which is a military tradition that honors people and events, including Veterans and is performed on Veteran’s Day. Light refreshments will be available for fellowship following the program at the Legion.
