On Sunday September 13, Decatur will host the 12th annual “Cruise 11 to Remember 9-11” event. The theme of the day will be Honor our Heroes. The 2020 event will be Covid friendly. Cruise 11 was created in memory of Pvt John Gifford. Gifford worked at ADM when 9-11 took place and later quit his job and joined the Marines. He was the first Illinois casualty in Operation Iraqi Freedom, when he was killed in action on March 23, 2003 at age 30.
This year the event is called 2020 Cruise 11 Classic Caravan. ALL vehicles (cars-new to antique, trucks, motorcycles) of any type and year are encouraged to participate. “We decided we needed to have a safe event and honor our wonderful healthcare workers at DMH and St Mary’s hospitals as well as the Fire Department, Sheriff Department, and Police Department,” says event coordinator, Ayn Owens. She goes on to say “I really wanted to give the public, especially our car show people, a way to show off their vehicles that would be unique and fun and carry the spirit of saluting our heroes. Essentially, we are putting together a vehicle parade to honor those that serve us daily!”
There will be a fb live caravan of cars with broadcasters Jeff Daly and Brett Zerfowski reading details of each entry. The first 85 get a free magnetic dash plaque courtesy of Dynagraphics. All vehicles will be given the traditional yellow ribbon to display during the 11-mile cruise and this year the Illinois Festival Queens will also be giving each entry a blue ribbon to honor healthcare workers. Entries should meet at the former O’Charlie’s beginning at 12:30pm to get lines up (Route 51 Forsyth). At 1:30 the fb live broadcast will take begin then it will go south on Route 51 to take a right on Kenwood and circle by DMH and honk and wave, return to 51 south go past the fire department, then through downtown on 51 and acknowledge the Sheriff department, continue on 51 go across the lake to southside drive then circle the Decatur Police Department to show appreciation, and return to 51 North and take Lake Shore Drive to left on 16th street to St Mary’s and celebrate their employees. Entries will have to follow traffic lights.
Each year, Cruise 11 serves as a fundraiser to collect donations for a veteran cause. Past years have supported the WWII Memorial Fund, Operation Enduring Support, Christmas Stockings for the troops, and monies have provided gift cards and essentials for many of our neediest Veterans. There is no entry fee-however- any donations given will go to a new MacArthur High School scholarship fund set up to honor MHS graduate Doug Hagen—a Vietnam Veteran that was KIA and posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Registration is not necessary. Call (217) 791-1385 for info. Donations should be made out to the DPS Foundation, memo the Hagen Fund.
Photo Credit: Cruise 11 to Remember 9-11 Facebook Page
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