Westville Lions sell special medallions

BY KIM LUTTRELL

WESTVILLE — The Labor Day parade in Westville will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010. To honor this long tradition the Westville Lions Club along with sponsor Sunset Funeral Homes is selling a silver medallion to commemorate the event.

“In the past, a lot of towns would put out tokens to commemorate some event like a centennial,” said Gary Delhaye of the Westville Lions Club. “We decided we wanted something a little more special and for it to be a collector’s item.”

“Members of our club designed the 3-inch silver medallion,” Delhaye said. “The medallion has a vintage parade scene on one side and the other side has the words ‘Honoring Our Centennial Parade–1910–2010–Westville, Illinois’.”

The club then approached Rich Darby of Sunset Funeral Homes about being a sponsor for the project.

“Sunset has always been a gracious sponsor on other projects we have done in the community,” Delhaye said. “It was only natural to seek them out for this project.”

“We are a family-owned business,” Darby said. “We believe very strongly in giving back to the communities where we do business.”

“We have sponsored other smaller projects with the Lions Club but this was the first major thing we have partnered with them on,” Darby added.

According to Delhaye, only 500 medallions have been minted so they will be a true collector’s item.

“We also wanted to keep the price reasonable and we feel we have done that,” Delhaye said. “We are selling them for $10 each.”

The Labor Day parade was started to honor working men and women. It initially was to honor the coal miners but eventually it would honor members of labor unions.

For many years the Lions Club partnered with the Sportsman Club of Westville as sponsors of the parade, but Delhaye said in the late 1970s the Lions Club became the sole sponsor.

Delhaye said proceeds from the medallion sale will be used to fund centennial celebration events leading up to the Labor Day parade next year.

“We have several great events we are planning for the celebration next year,” Delhaye said.

The Lions Club also has 16-month pictorial calendars for sale as part of their fundraising effort.

“These calendars feature a historical photograph on each month of scenes from past Labor Day parades,” Delhaye explained. “The calendars run from January 2010 to April 2011.”

The Lions Club is taking advanced orders for the calendars. If ordered before Dec. 1 the price is $8. After that, the cost will be $10.

To get a medallion or a calendar contact the Lions Club at 119 Mullen St. in Westville or Gary Delhaye at 267-7099.

TO PURCHASE

The Centennial Parade Medallions are available at the Westville Lions Club, 119 Mullen St., or by calling Gary Delhaye at 267-7099. Cost is $10 for each medallion.

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