COAL VALLEY, Ill. — A group in Coal Valley is planning several public events this fall to raise money for a new Veteran's Memorial and park.
The Veteran's Memorial Park Project Committee has a goal of $125,000 needed for the new memorial. Once that money is raised, the group hopes to start construction in the fall of 2025.
The park will feature reflection benches, flags, bronze statues and engraved pavers.
"Our goal is to promote patriotism and to provide respect and recognition to all the men and women who have served, fought and in some cases gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of this great nation, and to engage the public in the preservation of our country's history," the group said in a press release.
To raise money for the project, the public may purchase personalized 4x8 pavers. Each brick will have three lines of engraving available to honor loved ones. There will also be six personalized engraved benches for sale. You can purchase both here.
There will also be a bags and brews tournament on Saturday, September 21 at noon at Coal Creek Inn in Coal Valley. Cost is $40 per team for this double elimination event that features both a competitive and social bracket. All ages are welcome. The first prize for the social tournament will be $150, while the competitive tournament will award $500 to its winner.
Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. with bag play beginning at noon. Online registration can be done here. If you have any questions, you may call Susie at 309-781-7228. This will be in conjunction with Coal Creek Inn's second anniversary celebration. In addition to the bags tournament, there will be live music, games, raffles, kids activities and silent auctions. All of the proceeds from this event will go toward the memorial.
There will also be a trivia night, hosted by QC radio personality Greg Dwyer, on Saturday November 16. Doors will open at 5 p.m. at The Rock Party Facility at 302 1st Street in Coal Valley. Trivia begins at 6 p.m. It's $120 per table, with eight players max. This will also feature raffle baskets, silent auctions, raffle drawings and have food and drink for purchase. All of the proceeds will go toward the memorial. Teams can register here.
Several of the raffle baskets that will be at the trivia night already have tickets available for purchase. Each ticket is $10, which you can find here. The first is for a military fire ball fire pit. Another is for a Fat Tire Ale Collectors Edition Bicycle, presented by Fat Tire Ale New Belgium Brewing Company.
And finally, there's two meat bundles up for raffle, provided by Cattlemen's Meat Market:
- The Variety Bundle - 27 lbs. total weight
- (2) 2.5 lb. boneless chuck roasts
- 2 lb. round steak
- 3 lb. boneless rump roast
- (4) 8 oz. pork steaks
- (4) 5 oz. center cut pork chops
- (4) 4 oz. minute steaks
- (2) 3 lbs. cut up chicken
- (6) 1 lb. pkgs. ground beef
- Chuck Wagon - 35.5 lbs. total weight
- (2) 2.5 lb. boneless chuck roasts
- (2) 2 lb. first cut pork chops
- (2) 1.5 lb. top sirloin steaks
- (2) 1.5 lb. boneless chuck steak
- (2) 3 lb. pkgs. cut up chicken
- (2) 1 lb. pkgs. smoked sliced bacon
- (2) 1 lb. pkgs. pork sausage
- 3 lbs. country style ribs
- (6) 1 lb. pkgs. ground beef
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