CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The state says it plans to take action after questions were raised by WBBM Newsradio about the condition of POW/MIA remembrance signs at rest stops. WBBM was contacted about a POW/MIA remembrance sign at the rest stop off eastbound I-80, a mile into Illinois from Iowa. It’s the Mississippi Rapids rest stop. The problem is, two of the four names on it have faded and are unreadable. You can read the names of Lt. Junior Grade John Golz of Rock Island and Major Harold Amesbury of Morrison."We believe the signs were an effort initiated in 1990 by the Lt. Governor at the time," Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Guy Tridgell said. That would have been George Ryan.
Tridgell said there will be an effort to fix that sign and make sure others are in good shape.
"We have not heard any complaints about them over the year, but we plan to spend some time inventorying where the signs are located at and we want to see what kind of condition they’re in," he said.Sam Rice, chairman of the POW/MIA Committee of the American Legion Department of Illinois, said he would like to see the sign along I-80 made more respectful.
"I think it would be better to have them engraved intead of black paint on a brass plate," Rice said. "And you would never have to worry about the engraving going away."Tridgell said they are also interested in reaching out to some local veteran’s organizations to see that the information is current on the signs and that there is a plan in place to maintain them going forward.He said IDOT has close to 2,000 veterans who work for it so "we take veterans issues very seriously and want to make sure we're showing proper respect."
