Ill. town posts names of troops along streets - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Ill. town posts names of troops along streets

SULLIVAN, Ill. — Residents of Sullivan, Ill. don’t have to wonder which community members are serving Iraq and Afghanistan. All they have to do is drive around town.

Lampposts and telephone poles lining two streets in this central Illinois town are adorned with white signs, each bearing the name of a resident who is serving his or her country.

More than 100 residents of this town of 4,400 have served in the current wars, and dozens are still deployed.

If someone comes home and then is redeployed, their name goes back up. If more than one member of a family is serving, their names are displayed on the same post.

Parents say soldiers enlist out of patriotism but also for opportunities beyond their small town.