Survivor Outreach Services of Illinois and Missouri hosted the fourth annual Mark Twain Riverboat Cruise in Hannibal, Missouri, on June 2, 2024. The Mississippi River cruise served as a way to bring together Gold Star families from both sides of the river . The 3-hour cruise included live music, fun activities, prizes, food, and a place of fellowship for surviving families.
“Today is a day of celebration,” said Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, adjutant general of Illinois and commander of the Illinois National Guard. “This is an opportunity to live by the motto: ‘Always remember, never forget.’ This forum allows us to sit down and talk face to face with those who have paid the price of losing a loved one. They face it every day, but we encourage them to tell us their story. “I always enjoy attending the river cruise and hope to attend many more in the future.”
This year’s cruise was special as 18 other Survivor Outreach Services across the country also hosted cruises, said Michelle Rutherford, Support Coordinator for Illinois Survivor Outreach Services.
“This was the biggest one yet,” Rutherford said. “Today we all embark at the same time across the country in the name of our loved ones who are no longer with us.”
Survivors received words of encouragement from Illinois and Missouri National Guard leaders.
Brig. General Mateo. M. Bacon, deputy adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, expressed gratitude for the support of the surviving families and encouraged them to keep the memories of their loved ones alive.
“There are two deaths, one when they die and another when we stop telling their stories.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Kehinde Salami, the Illinois National Guard Senior Advisor, Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip Barber, Illinois Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major and Command Sgt. Maj. Peter Moeller, National Guard Bureau Casualty Operations Program Manager, also attended the cruise and enjoyed fellowship with the families in attendance.
Rutherford described the importance of the event that SOS provides.
“Survivor Outreach Services continues to honor those who are no longer with us,” Rutherford said. “Some of our survivors experienced loss recently and for others it was more than 20 years ago. It’s those little things that keep your memories alive. As General Bacon said before: “There are two deaths, one when they die and one when you forget them.” That’s why we always remember them and never forget them.”
Date to be had: | 06.02.2024 |
Publication date: | 09/06/2024 12:10 |
Story ID: | 472985 |
Location: | HANNIBAL, MISSOURI, USA |
Web views: | 6 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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