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New events on tap for Patriots Day

By Sharon K. Wolfe
swolfe@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON — Patriots Day 2007 will be bigger, bolder, brighter and better than ever.

Among new attractions Sept. 11 will be military helicopter landings and interactive military training simulations. A show of red, white and blue American muscle cars, plus classic and custom cars, also is a first this year. A display of motorcycles is on tap, with motorcyclists carrying the colors for the evening ceremony. The number of flags is also larger.

“It’s gonna be so red, white and blue it’s gonna knock your socks off,” said organizer Mick Mills, a retired U.S. Marine Corps sergeant.

Patriots Day will be marked from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Interstate Center, with doors opening at 9 a.m. A ceremony is scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with details still being finalized. Patriots Day honors the sacrifices made during and after the Sept. 11, 2001,

terror attacks.

A free breakfast for employers is new this year, and an expanded career fair with information on how employers can save money by hiring veterans is part of Veterans Networking With Business For Careers. That reflects a name change from a veterans career and benefits fair.

The fair will be at least three times the size of last year’s, so the event has moved to the Interstate Center from the McLean County Museum of History in downtown Bloomington. “The museum was fantastic and they did everything for us,” said organizer Reginald Bernard, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel.

“We plan on about 100 business and service agencies,” said Bernard, but there is room to expand if needed. The focus is jobs for veterans and increasing awareness of benefits, but the general public is welcome to apply for jobs, too.

“This is a one-of-kind in the state of Illinois. We have a strong feeling this is a one-of-the-kind in the country,” said Mills about the event.

A business-to-business networking breakfast will be from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Interstate Center. Organizers hope it will give a chance to connect with high-ranking company officials not usually at the jobs fair.

Registration deadline for the breakfast and jobs and benefits fair is Sept. 1 to Mick Mills, 207 E. Hamilton Road, Bloomington, IL 61704, or fax (309) 828-9231. For information about the benefits fair, call Mills at (309) 827-6237, Ext. 361. For information about the breakfast, call Bernard at (309) 662-4208. Callers will need to provide the organization’s name, address, phone number, e-mail and names of those attending. Both events are free.

Set-up times for the jobs fair will be from noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 10 and from 8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 11. There is no booth fee.

The events are sponsored by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, and the U.S. Department of Labor/Veterans Employment and Training Service.

Bernard is a volunteer with the employer support group. Mills is a veterans employment representative with the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Attendance is free thanks to a lot of contributions, said Mills. “It isn’t costing us. When you say the word ‘veteran,’ hearts go out.”

Commemorating Patriots Day

Title of event: Veterans Networking with Business for Careers

Where: Interstate Center, 2301 W. Market St., Bloomington

When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 11; doors open at 9 a.m. Ceremony, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

What else: Business networking breakfast, 8 to 9 a.m. Sept. 11; jobs fair set-up, noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 10 and 8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 11

Cost: All events are free

Registration: Due by Sept. 1 to Mick Mills, 207 E. Hamilton Road, Bloomington, IL 61704, or fax (309) 828-9231.

Information: Benefits fair, call Mick Mills at (309) 827-6237, Ext. 361. Breakfast, call Reginald Bernard at (309) 662-4208.

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