Organizer disappointed with low turnout at benefit concert
By Vinde Wells - Editor
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| Ken Drucks, center, drew cheers and applause from the audience when he performed a Ray Price song July 10 at Byron Middle School at a concert to raise funds to refurbish two veterans memorials. Photo by Vinde Wells |
Fundraiser concerts for two veterans memorials July 10 ended up netting very little for the cause.
Organizer Ron Colson said he was very disappointed by the low turnout for both the afternoon and evening concerts at the Byron Middle School.
He said Monday that he had not yet calculated how much money was raised.
The concerts were held to raise funds to spruce up the Soldiers & Sailors Monument and the Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial, both located on the lawn of the Ogle County Courthouse.
Performers included Chip Messiner with special guest Ken Drucks, Copper Creek Band, The Acoustic Circus, and Ray Rose and the End of the Road Band.
Colson blamed the large number of other activities going on last weekend for the lack of attendance at the concerts.
"There were special events going on from Whiteside County to Fort Atkinson, Wis., " he said. "It spread everyone too thin."
The concerts were competing with a multitude of events going on just across town at ByronFest, as well as a display of World War II aircraft in Whiteside County, and a Johnny Cash show in Fort Atkinson.
A small but enthusiastic audience attended the afternoon concert, cheering and clapping their approval for the Ray Price and Johnny Cash tunes performed by Ken Drucks, Oregon.
Both memorials are in need of restoration work.
The Soldiers & Sailors Monument created by sculptor Lorado Taft in 1916, needs cleaning and repairs. An estimate puts the cost at $7,500.
A fund has been set up at Stillman Bank for the repairs. Donations can be sent to Ogle County War Memorial Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 9, Oregon IL 61061.
That monument honors the 3,500 county veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War, and also bears a bronze plate listing World War I veterans from the county,
Plans call for refurbishing the VFW monument and adding two statues.
One sculpture will portray a soldier dressed in full battle gear, and the other will depict combat boots with a rifle and bayonet topped by dogs tags and a helmet.
The memorial honors the county's Congressional Medal of Honor veterans, as well as those who served from World War II until now.
