Above / Since Memorial Day weekend, Remember Everyone Deployed (RED) shirts have been available for purchase at certain times and locations throughout the community. Every shirt sold for $20 has boosted fundraising efforts for the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument planned for Veterans Park. All support continues to be appreciated. (Photo Courtesy James Hoch Photography)
Updated, Fri., May 13, 2022 / It’s RED Shirt Friday every Friday! RED (Remember Everyone Deployed) shirts again will be available for purchase at Quigley’s Irish Pub from 5 to 8PM on Fri., May 20, 2022. Thanks to the American Legion Riders and every individual that helped the fund grow to more than $12,000 for the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, another tribute that will be featured on the Century Walk tour of public art.
The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument with benches, landscaping and other tributes will be dedicated mid-afternoon on Sun., Aug. 7, at Veterans Park, across the street from Grace United Methodist Church on Gartner Road. Exact time of the dedication will be announced closer to the date. Meanwhile, Fri., May 20, seems like another perfect time to stop by Quigley’s for a cold beverage and enlightening conversation.
Updated, Fri., July 23, 2021 / It’s RED Shirt Friday! Again, RED Shirts will be available at Quigley’s Irish Pub for purchase for $20, all in support of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument planned for Veterans Park. Stop by Quigley’s from 5 to 8PM Fri., July 23. RED Shirts come in women’s and men’s sizes. (Note: Women who typically wear medium will want XL. The shirts for women run small. Men’s sizes are true to form.) Sláinte!
Updated, Sun., June 13, 2021 / More than 40 RED shirts left Quigley’s Irish Pub during the sale organized by Steve Strickland and Jim Hoch on June 11. To help with fundraising this month, Fridays also will be RED shirt day for the staff at Quigley’s, according to owner Nancy Quigley.
Original Post, May 29, 2021 / The acronym RED stands for “Remember Everyone Deployed” and was created to show solidarity and support for America’s deployed service members and Veterans.
Organizers of the Naperville Gold Star Families Memorial Monument fundraising effort invite supporters of the Naperville initiative “to wear RED every Friday to show support for our troops,” noted Jennifer Sloan in a recent email blast.
“Our steadfast Legion Riders have put together this fundraiser with all all proceeds going directly to the Naperville Gold Star Monument fund,” wrote Sloan.
Each shirt costs $20. Simply fill out the form and mail with a check payable to American Legion Riders, PO Box 4 Naperville IL 60566.
Group photo was set for July 3
During May, June and early July, RED shirts (v-necks and regular t-shirts) were available for purchase in person on the patio at the Judd Kendall VFW, 908 W. Jackson Avenue, and at Quigley’s Irish Pub, 43 E. Jefferson, as well as during The Salute on Rotary Hill, hosted by Naperville Responds for Veterans.
Early in July, Sloan added that a group picture of folks wearing RED shirts would be taken at 10AM on Sat., July 3, in the VFW parking lot. (Note the photo at the top of this post.)
To order a RED shirt, use a printable PDF form available with a click here.
RED shirts also will be available at WSI Irish Fest in Frontier Park, Aug. 6-7; Naper Settlement during its World War II Exhibit in September (date pending); and at the Naperville Jaycees Last Fling along Jackson Avenue, Sept. 3-6.
Organizers suggest to purchase early in order to find desired size available.
For more information or questions, contact Riders Commander Steve Strickland at BC31IUWG1@gmail.com or (630) 453-0095.
RED Shirt fundraiser supports tribute to Gold Star Families
Currently, the dedication of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Veterans Park is being planned for Sun., Sept. 26. Save the date. Watch for details.
For more information about the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument to be located at Veterans Park, 303 E. Gartner Road in Naperville, click here.
RED shirt info submitted by Jennifer Slown for the American Legion Post 43.
