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thedrifter
09-13-08, 06:30 AM
Renovated bridge will be renamed to honor all vets
September 13, 2008

By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com

AURORA -- With a $6.2 million renovation finally completed, the Illinois Avenue Bridge is set to be rededicated next Saturday. Only this time, it will be renamed to honor veterans past, present and future.

Its new name will be Veterans Island Memorial Bridge, tying in with the island it crosses. The idea for the rededication came from Auroran Frank Gordon, of Fox Valley Marines Detachment 1233. But Gordon says he had a lot of help -- from elected officials, city staffers and other veterans organizations.

The original idea, Gordon said, came after the families of East Aurora High School's fallen Marines -- Hector Ramos, Eduardo Lopez and Jesse De La Torre -- asked him for help. They wanted honorary street signs, but with the assistance of State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, Gordon managed to get them more than that.

On Sept. 20, the bridge will be rededicated with a gala ceremony. It will begin on Veterans Island, near the veterans memorial dedicated in 1992, with the raising of a U.S. flag that was flown over the Pentagon. Special guests will include Chapa LaVia, State Sen. Linda Holmes and State Sen. Chris Lauzen. And representatives of VFW Post 468, Amvets Post 103, Fox Valley Marines and other veterans organizations will be recognized.

"It's just one of those things you want to do to make a difference," Gordon said. "It's more for the families, to try to make a difference in their lives."

Among the special guests Saturday will be several "gold star" families -- those who lost family members in military service. One of them will be Donald Brengman, commander of Aurora Amvets Post 103. Brengman served in the Army, and fought in World War II. His brother James was in the same war, and died in the Battle of the Bulge.

Brengman is pleased to see the bridge dedicated to those, like him and his brother, who served.

"It seems to be, for a change, doing something for the veterans, showing their appreciation," he said. "We don't get recognition very much."

The ceremony officially concludes the bridge reconstruction project, begun in 2002. According to Aurora's road and bridge coordinator, Chris Lirot, the actual construction started in 2007, and finished up in July. The new bridge includes a bike path, wider sidewalks and decorative street lamps.

Aurora was responsible for funding 20 percent of the project -- the rest was paid for with federal money, administered by the state of Illinois. Lirot said Aurora's share was $1.5 million.

The Sept. 20 ceremony starts at 10 a.m. at the bridge's boat launch, just east of the bridge. Parking will be available on the south side of Illinois Avenue, and in the Prisco Community Center parking lot. Those with handicapped parking stickers may park on the boat launch.

Ellie