by Mary (Galer) Herschelman
To help bring awareness about the county's elder abuse program, the Montgomery County Health Department has added another military vehicle to its fleet.
"You have to stand out in order for somebody to take notice of what you're doing," said health department administrator Hugh Satterlee. "If we can help just one senior because of the phone numbers on the side of this truck, then it's worth it."
The health department received funding through a grant from the Illinois Department on Aging at the end of June, which enabled them to start work on the truck. Earlier this year, they received a grant from the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer program for the pink camouflage truck.
"Funding for both of these trucks could be used for nothing but this type of a project," Satterlee said.
The 1971 M35A2, which is the same model as the pink truck, but a different year, was painted black and red with a "break the silence" theme for elder abuse awareness.
On the bed of the truck sits a Quad 50 gun, which is on loan from the village of Irving and the American Legion post in Irving.
"You have to stand out in order for somebody to take notice of what you're doing," said health department administrator Hugh Satterlee. "If we can help just one senior because of the phone numbers on the side of this truck, then it's worth it."
The health department received funding through a grant from the Illinois Department on Aging at the end of June, which enabled them to start work on the truck. Earlier this year, they received a grant from the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer program for the pink camouflage truck.
"Funding for both of these trucks could be used for nothing but this type of a project," Satterlee said.
The 1971 M35A2, which is the same model as the pink truck, but a different year, was painted black and red with a "break the silence" theme for elder abuse awareness.
On the bed of the truck sits a Quad 50 gun, which is on loan from the village of Irving and the American Legion post in Irving.
Work was done on the vehicle by Satterlee, Tom Mathenia of Hillsboro, Denny Hiller of Hiller's Sheet Metal, who built some items for the gun, Allen Kasten, Gary Pinkley and Lee's Tire Mart, who helped to find some large tires. The detail painting on the Quad 50 was done by Hillsboro High School senior Charlene Kessler.
The truck has been in a variety of parades and hometown events this summer, including the Old Settlers parade and the Illinois State Fair parade.
"It seems to be very popular," Satterlee said.
They have allowed veterans to ride in the truck on parades, and it was also on display at the first ceremony welcoming soldiers from the Charlie Company home.
The truck will participate in a few more scheduled events this fall, but the Quad 50 will be returned to Irving following two parades on Halloween weekend. Satterlee said the village has agreed to loan the gun again next spring, when the truck hits the local parade routes again.
To learn more about the health department's elder abuse program, contact them at 532-2001. To report elder abuse, call the number on the back of the truck, 1-866-800-1409.
Copyright The Journal-News, Hillsboro, IL
SOURCE: The Journal-News, IL, USA
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