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Showing posts with the label bloomington - Normal

This Day in History - March 17, 2018: Sharin of the Green

  On March 17, 2018, the quaint town of Normal, Illinois, came alive with the spirited revelry of its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a cherished tradition that painted the streets with hues of emerald and echoes of jubilation. As the calendar aligned with the feast day of Ireland’s patron saint, the community gathered under a crisp spring sky to celebrate heritage, unity, and the promise of renewal that the season whispers. The parade, a vibrant procession through the heart of Normal, wove its way along familiar avenues, drawing families, friends, and visitors into a shared tapestry of festivity. Floats adorned with shamrocks and streamers rolled gracefully by, while local bands filled the air with lively tunes that stirred the soul and quickened the pulse. Marchers, clad in green regalia, waved to the onlookers, their smiles as bright as the sun that occasionally peeked through the clouds, casting a golden glow on the scene. This was more than a mere spectacle; it was a testamen...

Charles Old Hoss Radbourn stands tall in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery

Sports fans love a good player tribute or memorial.   They flock to places like stadiums, the various hall of fames, hometowns of heroes and museums to see artist’s renditions of the athlete and their careers.   There are simply hundreds of places to visit to pay homage to the many great athletes of the world.   Bloomington Illinois has added a venue in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery!   A cemetery is not your standard variety venue. Many cemeteries feature stone art.   Many old stones were carved with scenes of nature or animals and the way those are depicted generally has a meaning.   There is some of that art in Evergreen Memorial, but there is also new art that just grows with the trees.   It all began in 2015 when a tree died near a spot where a plane had crashed during the Memorial Day ceremonies of 1948.   Instead of cutting down the tree and removing the stump, management decided to have it carved into a memorial commemorat...