Communities in the region honored the service of veterans Tuesday.
The events include the annual Veteran’s Day Parade in Downtown Peoria that was followed by a ceremony on the Courthouse Plaza.
Heddington Oaks honored veterans with an open house and ceremony. 26 veterans reside at the facility, 22 served in World War II.
Peoria County Board Vice Chair Mary Ardapple deliver remarks at the event. “While we can never really fully repay our to the service men and women who died in battle, or to those who were injured in the defense of our country, we can recognize you and the other Peoria County Veterans today.“
Census numbers estimate more than 14-thousand veterans live in Peoria County.
The City of East Peoria did it’s first honorary street-naming for Sergeant Paul Smith. The East Peoria native was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2009.
East Peoria Commissioner Dan Decker says it’s fitting to implement the first naming on Veteran’s Day. “What we’ve chose to do in East Peoria is hang a sign in honor of those who while serving our country, died in the line of duty. Those who are from East Peoria, it’s the least we can do.”
The honorary street sign with Staff Sergeant Smith’s name is placed below the street sign where his family still resides.