Iraq war veteran helps Vietnam war veterans

Posted on September 29, 2016

*One veteran is fighting cancer caused by agent orange. (Taryn/Flickr)*

By Terry James

BLOOMINGTON – Even after serving three tours of duty in Iraq, Derek Claflin of Heyworth is not done honoring his country.

He runs BNI Holiday Lighting and will be decorating six homes for free this holiday season. Some of those homes belong to Vietnam veterans.

“Since those two military members gave so much to our country and sacrificed that’s where we expanded the program to help the Vietnam veterans and not just active duty personnel,” said Claflin.

Claflin originally wanted to help police officers and active duty military members.

This year he is helping six families including two Vietnam veterans.

One Veteran recently lost his wife. Another is fighting cancer caused by agent orange.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

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…