Annual Independence Day celebration held

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The 40th annual Independence Day Celebration was held on Saturday, July 4, 2009, at the Kaskaskia Bell State Historic Site on Kaskaskia Island. Due to inclement weather the ceremony was moved inside the historic Immaculate Conception?Church.

Dr. Samuel P. Wheeler, a Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Professor of Illinois History, gave the principal address, " 'A Glorious Theme': Abraham Lincoln and the Fourth of July". Don Welge, President of Gilster Mary-Lee Corp. of Chester, Illinois, gave the opening remarks as master of ceremonies.

Randolph County Circuit Clerk Barb Brown made special introductions. Reverend Dave Corrigan, S. J. gave the Invocation and Benediction. Other remarks were made by Military Veteran Danny James; Emily Lyons, Registrar, Liberty Bell of the West Chapter, NSDAR and Curator, Randolph County Archives & Museum representing Kaskaskia Island residents; Kenneth Ragland, Commander of the Chester V.F.W. Post 3553; Roland Wagner, Commander of the Chester American Legion Post 487; Mayor Joe Eggemeyer of Chester; Mayor Deborah Gahan of Perryville, Missouri; and Linda McDonald of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The Chester Municipal Band did not perform due to the weather. Deb Hoelscher sang a variety of patriotic selections. Taps was played in memory of our Patriots. Since the Liberty Bell of the West couldn't be rung, the 1874 church bells were rung by Joan Lightfoot Riegel, and her four children, Paul, Larry, Connie, and Edith, to signify that freedom is still alive for the American people.

Area Boy and Girl Scouts, as well as French Marines from nearby Fort de Chartres State Historic Site commanded by Bill McKnight, also participated in the ceremony.

The Chester V.F.W. and American Legion Posts, the City of Chester, the Kaskaskia Church Foundation, and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency sponsored the Independence Day Celebration.