Illinois brothers send veterans to D.C.

Illinois brothers send veterans to D.C.
By Elizabeth Davies - Rockford Register Star Via The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Apr 11, 2011 8:21:06 EDT
SOUTH BELOIT, Ill. — Mark Finnegan stood back and watched as veteran after veteran — more than 100 in all — took in the national memorials before them.

These men, each of whom had seen battle as a member of our nation’s military, never before had made their way to Washington to see the memorials that were built for them. Never before had they been given the chance to properly honor the friends and compatriots who never made it home.

On this day, in this late season of their lives, that mission finally was accomplished.

And Finnegan, a local business owner who brought the veterans to D.C., knew his father would be proud.

“Our father, Cy Finnegan, was a World War II Navy veteran,” Finnegan said. “He had a brutal battle with cancer and passed away in 2000, but he always had a wish to do something for his generation. And he never got to see this memorial they built in D.C.”

So with his brother, John, Finnegan launched a nonprofit organization called VetsRoll. The premise? To take as many Rock River Valley veterans as possible, free of cost, to Washington for a tour of the memorials.

In 2010, the Finnegan brothers raised enough money to take 191 people — 128 veterans, plus caregivers and medical personnel — on a four-day trip to D.C.

“It was just so overwhelming” for veterans to see the memorials, Finnegan said. “Some were so emotional, they couldn’t even talk.”
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Illinois brothers send veterans to D.C.