Quinn set to go to Maryland to visit soldiers

Gov. Pat Quinn has visited Illinois soldiers annually during the holiday season. (Photo courtesy Facebook/IOCI Media Services)

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Outgoing Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is gearing up for annual holiday trip to deliver Christmas cards to wounded soldiers.  

This year he's headed to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. According to Sunday's public schedule the Chicago Democrat is scheduled to depart from O'Hare International Airport in the evening.  

He made a similar trip in 2013, but in previous years he's visited U.S. service members in Germany. Quinn has said there aren't as many U.S. soldiers in Germany there as there once were.

Quinn leaves office next month when Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner will be sworn into office.  

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…