Bloomington man helps with a wreath-tossing ceremony in Springfield observance of Pearl Harbor

Posted on December 7, 2021
Lynn Shindel, of rural Bloomington, was the keynote speaker and is state chairman of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor. (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ annual Pearl Harbor observance, which the Department of Veterans’ Affairs puts on at Lake Springfield, included the traditional wreath-tossing into the lake. And a story of some good luck.

“Dad was lucky that day. He had Sunday morning off,” said Lynn Shindel of rural Bloomington. The state chairman of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor was the keynote speaker at the event. “He was able to sleep in and get ready for an inspection. But I always thought Dad felt guilty that he wasn’t in the dining hall.

“He just never talked about it.”

The ceremony marked the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack which marked the U.S.’ entry into World War II.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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