(Photo by Howard Packowitz/WJBC)
By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Saturday is Joshua P. Rodgers Day in Bloomington, according to a proclamation presented to the late soldier’s family at Monday night’s city council meeting.
It marks two years since the U.S. Army Ranger Sergeant from the Twin-Cities was killed while fighting in Afghanistan.
His parents, Vonda and Kevin Rodgers, held back tears when they received the proclamation from Mayor Tari Renner.
A ceremony is set for Thursday at 10 a.m. in Uptown Normal where the U.S. Post Office will be named in the war hero’s honor.
Friday at 3 p.m., a section of Airport Road, near Fort Jesse Road, will be named for Rodgers because that’s the highway he traveled to go to school at Northpoint Elementary and Normal Community High School, according to Alderman Mboka Mwilambwe.
“I feel a special kinship to him because my kids also use that road. They went to the same schools, Northpoint as well as Normal Community High School,” Mwilambwe said.
“In fact, my daughter stated to me that she remembers him because she was at Northpoint,” he said.
The alderman said the community is thankful for the sacrifice Rodgers made to uphold the country’s values.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
