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Newly promoted Illinois Army National Guard Lt. Col. Zachary DeGroot, of Chatham, the Illinois Army National Guard’s state training officer, and Commander, 1st Battalion, 106th Assault Helicopter Regiment, thanks friends and family for their support throughout his more than 18 years of military service during a promotion ceremony July 16 at the Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln, Springfield.

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Bo DeGroot, right, and Zachary DeGroot, left, pin lieutenant colonel rank on newly promoted Lt. Col. Zachary DeGroot, of Chatham, the Illinois Army National Guard’s state training officer, during a promotion ceremony July 16 at the Illinois Military Academy, Camp Lincoln, Springfield. Looking on is DeGroot’s youngest son, Gabriel. DeGroot was commissioned as an aviation officer in 2006 through the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

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Kim Southworth talks about her son's love of the community during a dedication ceremony on July 6 as a section of State Highway 133 through Oakland, Illinois, was named the 1st Lt. Jared W. Southworth Highway.

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Kim and Bob Southworth unveil the highway sign honoring their son with family during a dedication ceremony on July 6 as a section of State Highway 133 through Oakland, Illinois, was named the 1st Lt. Jared W. Southworth Highway.

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The Illinois Army National Guard Funeral and Honors Team prepares to fire a volley during a dedication ceremony on July 6 as a section of State Highway 133 through Oakland, Illinois, was named the 1st Lt. Jared W. Southworth Highway.

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Current and former Soldiers serving in the 1544th Transportation Company, based in Paris, gather for a group photo during a ceremony June 26 redesignating Highway 40 through Casey as the Army Specialist Charles Lamb Memorial Highway.

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Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers who served in the 1544th Transportation Company’s 2004 deployment to Iraq unveil the road sign designating Highway 40 through Casey as the Army Specialist Charles Lamb Memorial Highway at a ceremony June 26 at Casey Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5762 in Casey. Lamb, who grew up in Casey, was killed Sept. 5, 2004 during a mortar attack in Baghdad, Iraq.

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Illinois State Sen. Chapin Rose presents copies of Joint House Resolution 50 to fallen Illinois Army National Guard Spc. Charles Lamb’s family during a highway dedication ceremony June 26 at Casey Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5762 in Casey. The resolution renames the section of Highway 40 which runs through Casey the Army Spc. Charles Lamb Memorial Highway.

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Gold Star daughter Nyzia Wilson pins colonel rank on Beth Roxworthy during her promotion ceremony.

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Col. Beth Roxworthy takes the Oath of Office during her promotion ceremony. Roxworthy, the Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard's Chicago-based 34th Division Sustainment Brigade, was promoted to colonel on Friday, June 21, in Chicago. Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, the 41st Adjutant General for Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard, promoted Roxworthy and administered her Oath of Office.

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Col. Beth Roxworthy thanks her personnel officer, Maj. James Brock, during her promotion ceremony. Roxworthy, the Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard's Chicago-based 34th Division Sustainment Brigade, spoke about what she learned during each stage of her military career from the value of friendship as a lower enlisted Soldier to the meaning of sacrifice from getting to know the Gold Star family of Sgt. Simone Robinson. Roxworthy was promoted to colonel on Friday, June 21, in Chicago.

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Seven-year-old Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Illinois, poses for a photo with 1st Sgt. Beau Detrick after Jamir's "promotion" ceremony. Jamir was promoted to "Honorary First Sergeant" of the Illinois Army National Guard's November Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, Recruiting and Retention Battalion during a ceremony on June 8 at the Illinois Army National Guard's Marion Readiness Center in honor of his courageous fight against cancer.

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Seven-Year-Old Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Illinois, "smokes" a formation of Soldiers with 1st Sgt. Beau Detrick of November Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command.

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Seven-Year-Old Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Illinois, stands in front of the formation with 1st Sgt. Beau Detrick of November Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command. Jamir was promoted to "Honorary First Sergeant" of November Company during a ceremony on June 8 at the Illinois Army National Guard's Marion Readiness Center in honor of his courageous fight against cancer.

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Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers and law enforcement officers from the Illinois State Police and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office pose for a photo with 7-year-old Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Illinois, after Jamir's "promotion" ceremony.

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Seven-year-old Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Illinois, listens to an Illinois State Police tactical officer after his "promotion" ceremony. Jamir was promoted to "Honorary First Sergeant" of the Illinois Army National Guard's November Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, Recruiting and Retention Battalion during a ceremony on June 8 at the Illinois Army National Guard's Marion Readiness Center in honor of his courageous fight against cancer.

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Seven-year-old Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Illinois, smiles as he takes a photo with Illinois State Police officers after his "promotion" ceremony. Jamir was promoted to "Honorary First Sergeant" of the Illinois Army National Guard's November Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, Recruiting and Retention Battalion during a ceremony on June 8 at the Illinois Army National Guard's Marion Readiness Center in honor of his courageous fight against cancer.

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Seven-Year-Old Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Illinois, holds the NCO Creed with 1st Sgt. Beau Detrick of November Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command.

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Soldiers with Company A, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, huddle around Sgt. 1st Class Paul Minder, platoon sergeant, Company A, before a mobilization ceremony in Peoria, Illinois, June 4, 2024.

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First Sgt. Marshall Shearer stands at attention in front of his Soldiers during the mobilization ceremony for Company B, 766th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Coal City High School on June 6 in Coal City, Illinois.

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