Lions members heard a presentation from Morrison High School Key Club President Bailey Smith and member Michelle Edwards, about the “Green Tree Plastic” recycle program. The project involves collecting certain plastic caps and lids. Initially 100 pounds of the plastic items would allow the Key Club to obtain a four foot bench for $150. Their goal is to collect the amount by the end of the school year. If they do not meet this goal, the project will continue until the goal is met. The bench will replace the existing Buddy Bench at Southside School, which is in need of replacement. The Buddy Bench is used as a way for new students to become acquainted with students already attending. A new student can sit on the bench; this lets students know to come to the student, talk, and make the person feel welcomed.
Lions Club members will help collect caps and lids for the Key Club. If you would like to help with this project and donate these items, please contact the Morrison High School or a Lions Club member.
The Lions approved our annual donation to the Morrison Youth Baseball and Softball. The Club also will support the Lions of Illinois Foundation, which offers a free camping experience for vision- and hearing-impaired adults and children, at Camp Reynoldswood in Dixon, IL. Morrison Lions will provide treats for one night at one of the camps for those attending.
Keith Hamstra, left, was in charge of the program for our Tuesday, February 5, 2019, meeting. Mike Senneff, right, provided a very interesting and informative program about Paul Heun, a World War II soldier from the Garden Plain area. Heun was married with a daughter when he was drafted in 1943. He was sent first to the Induction Center at Camp Grant in Rockford, IL, and then spent 17 weeks training in Fort Wolters in Texas. Heun returned home to visit his wife and daughter before being sent to Fort Meade in Maryland, just before Christmas 1943. He shipped out on a troop ship headed for England. His assignment was with the 16th Infantry Regiment of the Army’s First Division. This Division was battle tested and had seen action in the war. Assigned to Company E, he received more training in preparation of the D Day landings. Company E was on the attack ship USS Henrico and on June 3, 1944, sailed into the English Channel. Early that morning the troops went over the sides into landing crafts, with everyone having a good idea of what to expect. The trip was tough getting to the beaches, and many soldiers were lost due to drowning. With 211 soldiers in Company E, only 85 survived the landing; Paul drowned. On June 8, bodies were collected and buried in the sands of Omaha Beach, with graves marked with dog tags. Paul’s family received word of his death on July 6. In 1947, families were given the option of leaving deceased servicemen in the overseas cemetery; having the body returned for burial in a National cemetery; having the body returned to the home area for burial. His family had Paul Heun’s body returned to Fulton, IL, for burial.
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, March 19, at noon at Happy Joe’s, 109 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL. We welcome anyone interested in learning more about Lions to attend any of our meetings on the first and third Tuesday of the month.
You can also visit our website at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/morrisonil.