Gold Star Mother and Survivor Outreach Services Coordinator Jean Harris talks to Illinois Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. David Schreffler as the Gold Star 500 as the riders arrive at the Great Lakes Community Center, part of the Naval Station Great Lakes near North Chicago, Illinois, on Sept. 24, 2022.
220924-A-OH563-417.JPG Photo By: Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois - Gold Star Mother and Survivor Outreach Services Coordinator Jean Harris talks to Illinois Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. David Schreffler as the Gold Star 500 as the riders arrive at the Great Lakes Community Center, part of the Naval Station Great Lakes near North Chicago, Illinois, on Sept. 24, 2022. Schreffler rides in honor of Harris' son, Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. Joshua Harris, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Sept. 18, 2008. Several Illinois National Guard active and retired service members participate in the more than 500-mile bicycle ride that raises awareness of the approximately 300 Illinois service members who have fallen since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, including 34 members of the Illinois National Guard. This year Schreffler will join an eight-person Illinois team traveling to Poland to participate in the Polish Veteran Bike Rally from Aug. 8-12. The Polish Veterans Bike Rally honors Polish and allied fallen service members. The Illinois National Guard has shared a State Partnership Program with Poland for 30 years. Illinois National Guard Soldiers co-deployed with the Polish first to Iraq and then to Afghanistan for 17 years.


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