CLINTON - As hundreds of people huddled under canopies in an attempt to escape the cold, driving rain during a Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday at Weldon Springs near Clinton, state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, found a silver lining.

"Even on a day as dreary as this one, the Veterans Memorial at Weldon Springs is still a beautiful place to be," Mitchell said.

While Mitchell and other speakers at the ceremony paid tribute to America's veterans, the fate of Weldon Springs State Recreation Area was on everyone's minds. It is among more than two dozen state parks and historic sites expected to close by the end of the month, and that has many wondering about future access to the memorial in the park.

Ernest Thorp, a World War II Army Air Forces veteran and former prisoner of war, spoke of how proud he was of all veterans and of those who built the memorial at Weldon Springs.

"Thank you and let's fight to keep this here," he said.

Army Maj. Jerry Clarke, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, an Urbana Republican, gave the audience a reason to hope, however.

"About 25 years ago, this park received grant money from the secretary of the interior of the United States," said "With that grant money came the stipulation that the park cannot be closed without the permission of the secretary of the interior's office.

"Our office has made that clear to state of Illinois officials and it is our belief that by law, this park must remain open."

Clinton Mayor Ed Wollet served as the master of ceremonies for the ceremony organized by DeWitt County Homefront. In addition to Mitchell, Thorp and Clarke, speakers also included Peter Thomas, who is the director of the Lincoln Challenge Academy in Rantoul, and state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

"There are few American heroes," Wollet said in introducing Thorp, "but this man is one of them."

Thorp served in the 452nd Bomb Group and was shot down in the North Sea on Aug. 4, 1944. He was captured and held as a POW for eight months.

Now 88 years old, he told the crowd that Veterans Day is one of his favorite days.

"I had five children and I prayed that my children would never have to wear a uniform," Thorp said. "But both of my sons did as my oldest served as a captain in the Army and served in Vietnam. My youngest was a navigator in B-52s for the Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

"I had a son-in-law who also served in the Air Force for 21 years as a meteorologist and retired as a captain. So, I have been around the military and this uniform my whole life. I'm very proud of that."