Libby Moeller
Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- In a rare display of bipartisanship, a State House Bill was approved unanimously to give two local fallen soldiers the recognition they deserve.
Numerous members of the community, City officials, and local representatives were in attendance.
The ceremony was held at 2pm at the Workman Sports Complex for Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Donaldson and Sergeant Timothy Sayne. Libby Moeller, who was instrumental in making this dedication a reality, started the ceremony with some background on how it happened, stating that it took a lot of legwork. Representatives Wilhour, Niemerg, and State Senator McClure all said they worked all day and into the night to make sure the resolution made it to the house floor for a vote before the end of session. They said that if they did not get the resolution ready before the end of this session, Christopher Donaldson would not have been eligible for the honor. The legislators said they even suspended house rules to make sure it was able to be voted on.
The American Legion Post 120 Color Guard held the flags as the National Anthem was sang by Evie Sayne, a relative of Timothy Sayne. Opening remarks were delivered by Libby Moeller, State Senator Steve McClure, State Representatives Adam Niemerg and Blaine Wilhour, and Mayor Mike Schutzbach.
Steve McClure
Adam Niemerg
Blaine Wilhour
Reverend Mike Burdick with St. John’s Lutheran Church gave the benediction and led the prayer for the event.
Reverend Mike Burdick
After the benediction, the families of both servicemen were given 3 copies of the signs to keep.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Donaldson served with the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), based at Fort Drum, NY. On May 5th, he gave his life when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was aboard went down during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan. The 4th Street overpass now bears his name.
Sergeant Timothy Sayne entered the US Army in 2008 and was stationed in Alaska, serving with B Troop, 5-1 Cavalry, 1/25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. On September 18th, 2011, he was killed in action during an insurgent attack in Shah Wali Kot, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. The Fayette Avenue overpass now bears his name.
Special thanks go to the Donaldson and Sayne families, American Legion Post 120, Evie Sayne, Page Brummer, Aliyah Bunton, Shae Conder, Rowyn Frey, Henry Gannaway, and Max Gillenwater, Reverend Mike Burdick and St. John’s Lutheran Church, the Effingham Park District, and IDOT.
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