Teamsters Helmets to Hardhats Proudly Presents ‘A Season to Remember’

Teamsters Helmets to Hardhats is dedicating the holiday season to those who have made so many sacrifices, the families of Illinois Fallen heroes, the families of the active military and our Illinois veterans.

MARSHFIELD, Ill., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Illinois Veterans Foundation and Chicago Teamsters honor the Will Grundy Building Trades and Teamster participants as well as private companies who helped build a home for Gold Star mom Lori Fraher by honoring all of the fallen heroes from Illinois.

A dinner will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2008 at Teamsters Local 705 auditorium located at 328 S. Marshfield, Chicago, Illinois. Media parking will be available.

The office of Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn will present over 100 union locals and individuals including the private companies that made donations to the Lori Fraher home with Illinois Hometown Hero Awards for their heroic participation in the reconstruction of Gold Star mother Lori Fraher’s home, honoring the memory of Lance Corporal Ray Holzhauer.

The only sitting state constitutional officer that served in the military is Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. He was a member of the U.S. Army famed 101st Airborne Division, an Army Reservist and served in the Illinois National Guard. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White will be presenting a video tribute honoring all of the fallen heroes from the State of Illinois with special tribute to Lance Corporal Ray Holzhauer. His office will also present honorees with a special presentation for their support to Gold Star mother Lori Fraher.

“I am proud to have served this great country. During the holiday season we must remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and their families who will have one less package to wrap and one less seat to fill at their holiday dinners,” says White.

Special guests will include Gold Star mother Lori Fraher and her family and SEIU member and Gold Star father Phil Martini, whose son Lance Corporal Phillip J. Martini was killed April 8, 2006. Martini has invited the young returning veterans that served with his son in combat to attend the tribute and James Martini, surviving brother of Phillip J. Martini, will speak at the event, as well as John and Diane Olson, Gold Star mother and father of Corporal John Olson, killed on February 21, 2008.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters