Gold Star Weekend in Illinois: Luncheon Honors Service of Gold Star Mothers [Image 44 of 65]

WHEATON, IL, UNITED STATES

09.29.2019

Photo by Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton 

Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and First Army Commander Lt. Gen. Thomas S. James present Shawn Gregoire, the mother of Army Spc. Michael Nance, with a Gold Star Flag at the Gold Star Mothers Luncheon. Spc. Nance, 24, of Chicago, died July 29, 2019, by small arms fire in a reported insider attack. He was assigned to Company B., 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Lt. Gen. James described how Gregoire continues to support the Soldiers in her son's unit while they are deployed. Gregoire ensured Nance's funeral was live-streamed to Afghanistan so his friends and fellow Soldiers could see it. The Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Star Mothers Luncheon gives senior civilian and military leaders a chance to thank Gold Star mothers for their service to our nation and its military. Governor JB Pritzker thanked the Gold Star Mothers and said he was humbled to have the opportunity to speak with them. In addition to the sacrifice their sons and daughters gave to their nation, many Gold Star mothers keep their Fallen Heroes memories alive and continue their service to the community and to the military, said Lt. Gen. Thomas S. James, the Commander of First Army and keynote speaker at the luncheon. The luncheon was held at the First Infantry Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton, Illinois, on Sunday, Sept. 29.

• Date Taken: 09.29.2019
• Date Posted: 09.30.2019 18:09
• Photo ID: 5796147
• VIRIN: 190929-A-OH563-449
• Resolution: 3288x2925
• Size: 1.36 MB
• Location: WHEATON, IL, US