Dozer Park christened

It is rather common in Peoria to see Caterpillar Inc. earthmovers parked in spots other than construction sites. But on the concourse of a baseball stadium?

Why sure, when that stadium is called Dozer Park in honor of the earthmoving equipment that made Caterpillar the world's top manufacturer of heavy machinery.

Bulldozers, which these days are called track-type tractors, will be parked there every season for the next 10 years, the length of the contract that allows caterpillar the right to name the stadium.

It was made official Friday night during a ceremony in which the ribbon was cut on Dozer Park by Caterpillar Chairman Doug Oberhelman. Afterward the crowd gathered at the main gate for the ceremony was invited by Oberhelman to check out the antique bulldozer parked down the right field line and the new machine -- a D4 -- parked down the left field line.

"Caterpillar is a proud new sponsor of the stadium," Oberhelman said in brief remarks. He and his wife Diane brought their twin black labs with them; they're named Dozer and Diesel.

The only glitch in the ceremony was that the blue tarp covering the Dozer Park sign above the front entrance got hung up when officials tried to pull the string to release it and unveil the sign. After much tugging it finally pulled free as the crowd of a couple hundred -- waiting for the gates to open for the Chiefs' game against Clinton -- cheered.

By then, however, the dignitaries in hand had entered the stadium. Those dignitaries included several Caterpillar officials, local politicians, partners in the group that owns the tam and stadium, and Pete and Rocky Vonachen, the father and son principal owners of the team.

Rocky Vonachen lauded the efforts of city officials in helping restructure the debt on the stadium and the support of caterpillar in acquiring the naming rights at $200,000 a year for 10 years.

That kind of help, he aid, "will keep professional baseball in Peoria for a long, long time."

Before the festivities began, the crowd that had gathered seemed excited about the new name.

"I like it; I think it's really kind of appropriate for Peoria," said one man. "I love the stadium and it would have been a real shame if they hadn't been able to work this out."

Another man, dressed in Chicago Cubs shirt and hat, said he also thought the new stadium name "had a nice ring to it. This is a great place to watch a game, even if it is the Cards affiliate now. As long as it's good baseball, that's what counts."

Well, that didn't happen for the Chiefs on Friday night. They lost to Clinton, 12-4.

Honor Flight was priceless for veterans

Getting the inaugural Greater Peoria Honor Flight off the ground on Tuesday took a whole lot of dollars and dimes, its chief organizer said.

But to the 81 veterans who made the trip, it was priceless.

That was evident first by the looks on their faces as the walked into the Peoria International Airport late Tuesday and saw the more than a thousand people there cheering them, the bagpipers leading the way, and the myriad of balloons and flags and signs welcoming home the heroes of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars.

There were huge smiles, some tears and just looks of awe by the welcome they got. Said one Vietnam veteran there to greet his friends, "It's about time for a lot of these guys. We didn't get ticker-tape parades when we came home."

Words like "overwhelming," "unbelievable," "magnificent," "incredible" and "awesome" were common from the veterans and those who accompanied them on the flight as their guardians.

"It was just spectacular, much more than I expected," said World War II veteran Lyle Sparks, 91, smiling broadly as his guardian for the day, his son Dick Sparks, pushed his wheelchair.

Dick Sparks said, "It was so great for my Dad to be able to see the monument and then to have this greeting... he is overwhelmed. So am I."

Sparks and others also talked about the reception they received when they arrived at the World War II Monument in Washington, including a children's choir and dignitaries. There to welcome the Peoria group were U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, a native Peorian and former 17th District Congressman, his congressional predecessor Robert Michel, current 17th District Congressman Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, and current 18th District Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, D-Moline.

Other monuments were visited, as well, including the Vietnam Wall, the Lincoln Monument and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Honor Flight was the first since Peoria was named a hub by the Honor Flight Network on March 15. The Honor Flights were established in 2004 as a way to get veterans who otherwise may never be able to get to Washington D.C. an opportunity to see the war monuments there. The World War II Monument was completed in 2004.

While initially geared for World War II veterans because their numbers are quickly shrinking, as are their opportunities, the flights are open to veterans of other wars, as well. Veterans fly free; guardians pay $500 for the charter flight, which includes meals.

That enough money was raised in such a short time and with relatively little corporate sponsorship was a testament to the interest of many individuals who believed it important that Peoria veterans get the chance, said chief organizer Margaret Hanley. She said the group was not allowed to officially start raising money until it was named a hub in March.

Hanley, who wept when she saw the large turnout at the airport, said later that her resolve and that of her siblings and other organizers became that much stronger to continue the flights and to continue to raise money for future flights. A flight is scheduled for September and is already sold out, she added, except for finding enough guardians.

"We'd like to do three or four flights each year. We need a lot more sponsors and a lot more volunteers. It took a lot of dollars and dimes to get the plane in the air and we need more," she said.

Hanley said she and her siblings are doing the work necessary as a tribute to their mother, who died four years ago. "She was the most patriotic person I knew so we want to do this not only for our veterans, but in her memory," she said.

She was quick to credit others who helped, including Lesley Matuszak, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Peoria. "I gave a speech at Toastmasters about Honor Flight and said it was too bad we didn't have a hub here in Peoria. Lesley came up to me afterward and said, 'let's do this.' We started talking to others and it went from there," she said.

There is now a core group of about 20 people, some of whom were on the first flight and others who stayed behind in Peoria to organize the welcome home reception at the airport.

Hanley, who was a guardian on two Honor Flights out of Springfield before forming the Peoria hub, said it is the best experience she's ever had, helping the veterans see the monument that was built in their honor.

Tuesday's reception, Hanley said, was far bigger and more overwhelming than she expected. "I knew there was a lot of people, but I never could have expected we'd get that many people and that kind of reception. It was amazing," she said.

The airport parking was filled and arrangements had been made to run a shuttle bus back and forth from the nearby CEFCU office. It's lot was filled with cars more than an hour before the flight landed.

The area around the ticket counters was filled with people holding balloons, flags and signs. The Elite Drum Corps played and entertained the friends and families of the veterans and guardians on the flight.

Along the corridor leading to and from the airport gates men and women wearing vests bearing the POW/MIA stickers held U.S. flags in greeting. Active military personnel, mostly from the Air Force and Navy and Reserves units, were on hand in uniform. They were cheered by the crowd as they walked in.

As the veterans on the Honor Flight went past, people reached out to shake their hands and to say "welcome home." There were as many tears among the crowd as with the veterans and guardians who were on the flight.

Bruce Brown, owner of Paparazzi in Peoria Heights, went along as a volunteer to photograph the event. "I was a Marine photographer and wanted to do this. I'm glad I did. The raw emotions of everybody when they got to the monument was unbelievable to see. And now this? Wow. This was quite an operation. I'm glad they did it," he said.

Brown noted he will host a fundraiser at Paparazzi this summer for future Honor Flights.

Among the crowd were several Vietnam veterans who received no welcome home parties and often were derided at airports when returning from duty, so unpopular was the U.S. involvement in that conflict.

One veteran, who didn't want his name used, said every time he sees another Vietnam veteran bearing a ribbon that indicates he was in country there "I say, 'welcome home.' It's about time they heard it, I think. It's very gratifying to see this."

That veteran said he didn't personally face derision, "but I was in the Air Force. People didn't look at us as 'baby killers' the way they did other vets."

A veteran of Korea said that while he and his fellow soldiers were not treated poorly when they returned home, nor were they treated as heroes. "In my opinion, we all were there for our country, serving our country. This was a long time coming," he said.

Watson: Honor Flight's Memorable Trip (Part 1)

Editor's note: Doc Watson was aboard the inaugural Greater Peoria Honor Flight that took 81 veterans to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, June 4, as a guardian. He is writing a series of articles, and including photos he took, for his employer's website, www.955glo.com, and is sharing them with readers of The Peorian. The articles will appear first on the WGLO site.

The inaugural Greater Peoria Honor Flight landed at Peoria International Airport last night to a rock-star-like reception. Around 1,500 patriotic folks, the Celtic Cross Bagpipers, the Elite Drum Corps and groups of cheerleaders welcomed back our U.S. military heroes. Hundreds more were unable to squeeze in the new terminal and waited outdoors to say, "Thanks" to the vets. I walked with the veterans and their guardians through the packed crowd, feeling unworthy among those who put their life on the line for our country, but thanking all those who came out for the welcome back. I overheard vets say things like, "This is amazing!" and "I never expected anything like this!"

It's difficult even for me, a guy who makes his living with words, to describe the long, but rewarding day, but remarkable, awesome, moving, somber, joyous, proud and lucky come to mind.

For those just hearing about this program, the Honor Flight Network debuted in Ohio in 2005, flying our U.S. war veterans, mostly from World War II, to Washington, D.C., to see their war memorial and others in our nation's Capital. This was the Peoria area's first-ever veterans' flight. Around 80 vets from 24 different Central Illinois towns were the first to go from PIA. Approximately 35 participated in WWII, about 35 more in the Korean War, while around seven were Vietnam vets and a few served in the Gulf War. I believe there were three women veterans.

This one-of-a-kind program is totally free to the veterans, who are accompanied by a guardian, who donate $500.00. The rest of the flight, travel arrangements and meals are covered by donations. This flight cost approximately $80,000, so there will be much more fund-raising if Peoria is to sustain this perpetually. I know there'll be no shortage of veterans wanting to experience this "swansong" as Nick Anton - who served in the Air Force in WWII AND Korea - called it.

From the start of the day at PIA, around 5 am for most of us (the organizers were there much earlier), it was clear the vets were going to get treated above and beyond. After checking in and taking a picture with their guardians, we were all allowed to skirt security and get to our gate easily. With so many of the vets at advanced ages - about two-thirds were at or over 80 years - not having to take shoes and belts off was greatly appreciated. Food, snacks and drinks were available for them from the start of the day 'til the finish.

The Honor Flight Network in Washington, also an all-volunteer group, made sure our arrival was unique. Reagan Airport firetrucks saluted our plane with water cannons shooting arching lines of water overhead, like knights with swords crossing above us. Everyone in the travelling party was greeting by applause when walking through the gate. Applause and "thank you's" would be common throughout the day.

"World War II has been over for, what, 68 years?" said Anton, "and there are kids coming up to me in the airport saying, 'Thank you for your service.' It's amazing." Elementary school kids were waiting with banners, smiles and applause at our first stop, the World War II Memorial. A high school band on its field trip played in the background. Ironically, the band was from Whitehouse, Texas. Local politicians Ray LaHood, Cheri Bustos and Bob Michaels greeted and spoke to the vets, while Aaron Schock joined them at the next stop.

We hopped on the air conditioned bus where our volunteer tour guide Theresa Werner filled us in on what landmarks we were passing and gave info on the upcoming stops. The Vietnam, Lincoln and Korean War memorials were all clustered fairly close together. I'd seen the Lincoln before, so WEEK/WHOI's Josh Simon and I focused on the other two. The Korean War Memorial was stunning. About 20 U.S. military members are shown in larger-than-life statue form, walking in a triangular formation out of a forrest.

From there, it was off to the "Iwo Jima" (Marines) Memorial and the newish Air Force Memorial. The latter features three arching jet "contrails" splitting off high overhead. Think the St. Louis Arch meets the classic Thunderbirds formation in which three jets soar tightly together vertically before breaking away.

Our final stop was at the Arlington National Cemetery, where we watched the changing of the guard. A JAG officer on our bus and another one on the site loaded us up with info on "The Old Guard," the highly competitive ceremonial Army unit that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 24-7, 365 days a year, rain, snow or shine, including a recent brush watching over it while Hurricane Sandy raged by.

After watching the guard change, I came upon three of our vets in wheelchairs telling war stories to a group of junior high kids on a class trip. The teenagers were semi-interested when the cheery moderator/teacher asked one of the vets about his WWII experience. He said he'd been in the Air Force. She asked how many missions? He said three. She said, "Oh, you must've gotten in at the tail end of the war." He said, "No. Got shot down on that mission." That hit home, got real, for the ADHD group, which became quiet immediately.

Back at the Reagan Airport, some levity was added by the Big Band music playing in the terminal overhead. Our bus tour guide Theresa danced with some of the vets, while her male friend danced with 89-year-old WWII nurse Nora Leman, a woman whose smile still lights up a room. As we boarded the Sun Country Airline plane for the return flight, the veterans were a happy, tired group that thought the day and itinerary were done.

With about an hour left in the flight, one of the committee members and organizers Lesley Matuszak commandeered the plane's PA microphone and started calling a "Soldier's Mail Call." She called roll and each vet was given a mail bag full of letters written to them by family and friends. One of the vets on my row, 87-year-old Raymond Huette wiped away a tear and said, "In my life, I never expected anything like this."

At one point, one of the bags came up missing for a vet. I commented that this was real and authentic, like real life, military mail going missing. A vet a row up quipped, "yeah, a little too real."

But that wasn't the end of the emotional day. I knew - we'd publicized it on GLO - that we were having a somewhat "surprise" welcome back celebration for the vets. I expected 200-300. When we disembarked from the plane, several dozen active duty military members in uniform were there to greet their predecessors, troops greeting troops. That was just a warm up for the incredible outpouring of support from the public that followed.

Many people have commented to me that they wanted to come to the airport for the homecoming or that they knew a family member who wanted to get on the Honor Flight. Well, you're in luck. We want to make this a perpetual Peoria program. I know there are enough vets who'd enjoy this greatly. But the program survives on donations and will need continual monetary support, in addition to the legion of volunteers that made this first flight turn out so well in such a short few month's turnaround time.

The next fundraising event is Saturday starting at 3 pm at Veterans Pub and Pizza on Adams Street in Peoria. In Morton Monday night at the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center, the documentary "Honor Flight: One Last Mission" will be shown at 7 pm. If you'd like to make a donation or know a vet who'd like to fill out the online application, click on http://www.greaterpeoriahonorflight.org/

Every one of the former soldiers has a story. Check back in the next few days for more of them.

Doc Watson

Putting the Dozer in Dozer Park

On Wednesday morning at Dozer Park, everyone was on the move, from the children participating in baseball camp on the field to the staff and crew scurrying about getting the stadium ready for the day’s game. However, that all came to a stop around 10:45 a.m. when the roar of an antique Cat dozer echoed through the stadium.

That’s when, just off the third base side of the field, Kent Bates of the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club (ACMOC) fired up a 1952 Cat D6 9U, which had just been dropped off at the stadium. The machine is one of two Cat track-type tractors that will grace Dozer Park this season, the other one being a new Cat D4 2K. The D6 9U is on loan from another ACMOC member, Jim Kidwell of Greenwood, Mo.

Dropping the machine off at the field was one thing; getting it to the proper location in the stadium was something else. After disembarking from a semi-trailer on the third base side of the field, the machine had to travel through the concourse on wood planks to its position along the right field line. And if that doesn’t seem difficult enough, it had to travel the entire distance backwards because there wasn’t enough room to turn the machine completely around. After all, it’s a baseball stadium and not a construction site.

Bates, along with two helpers, deftly moved the machine through the concourse without a hitch, passing within a few inches of the sculpture of Pete Vonachen in the entrance. The process took nearly three hours to complete.

The Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club (ACMOC) was founded in 1991 by a small group of enthusiasts who all shared a similar passion in the legacy of antique Caterpillar machinery. At the time, they had no idea that their club would one day grow to have thousands of members all around the world. Now based in Peoria, ACMOC's mission is to assist and educate its members, and the general public, to appreciate the historic role of Caterpillar machinery in shaping the world. ACMOC promotes the collection, preservation, restoration, display, and study of products and memorabilia of Caterpillar and its related predecessors. For more information, visit the club's website.

The stadium will be officially rechristened as Dozer Park at Friday night’s game vs. the Clinton LumberKings. There will be all kinds of special events and promotions going on at the stadium that night celebrating the name change (including 25 cent hot dogs) and Peoria’s finalist status in the All-America City competition. On that night, the Peoria Chiefs will donate $5 for every club box seat to Peoria’s All-America City team’s expenses.