The first Sheridan Veterans Memorial Park fundraising raffle took place on Veterans Day 2007. The raffle became an annual tradition, and someone will, on Thursday, Nov. 11, win a Colt AR-15 .223 Caliber H-Bar Rifle.

During the first three years, the Veterans Memorial Park Committee raised approximately $31,800 — money that has been put to a very visible use. Before 2007, the park, located behind the Sheridan Village Hall and Fire Department building, used to be an empty field with one small stone monument dedicated to veterans. Today, that monument is part of a bigger plan that now includes paver paths, five flagpoles with flags representing the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, along with the U.S. flag, professional landscaping and more.

But more work is needed before the memorial park is finished. The committee has estimated it will take $50,000 to complete wiring and electricity, purchase a larger monument, bronze plaques by each flag, a dedication plaque with the design of a soldier raising the flag at Iwo Jima and other improvement plans. To help raise money to get them closer to those plans, committee members are hoping for a fourth successful raffle of a military weapon, the Colt rifle.

In 2007, the prize was a Springfield Armory M1A 7.6 mm rifle, representative of the early Vietnam War years. In 2008, Jim Majchrzak of Plano won two Springfield Armory 1911-A1 pistols that represented veterans from World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars. Last year, David Lenicioni of St. Charles won a Springfield Armory M1 Garand .30 caliber rifle Iwo Jima Commemorative in a wooden crate marked Feb. 23, 1945 — the date the American flag was raised at Iwo Jima.

"All of the military rifles and guns we have raffled off are representative of all of our veterans," Chuck Bergeron, Sheridan police chief and committee member, told The Times. "The Colt H-Bar rifle represents what our later Vietnam veterans used in combat to what we are now currently using. Raffling military weapons seems fitting because we are trying to raise money for a veterans park."

How the committee was able to get the Colt rifle is a story in itself. Bergeron called Colt Manufacturing to inquire about buying a weapon for the raffle, and Lt. General William Keys, the president and CEO of New Colt Holding Corporation, was told about Sheridan's veterans park project.

Keys, a retired three-star general, led Marines during the Gulf War. A Vietnam combat veteran, he actually used a Colt rifle and handgun during his military career. He won a Silver Star, a Legion of Merit with Combat V and a Bronze Star with Combat V.

"The H-Bar rifle was a donation from Colt," Bergeron said. "We paid for the Springfield Armory weapons we raffled, so that purchase was a part of our expenses. So this donation means a lot to our committee and our community. We are very appreciative."

The committee is very passionate about veterans and the improving park is a testament to that passion. Bergeron's father was a combat Marine in World War II and he is very happy there is a park to honor his father and all the other veterans.

"It's because of our veterans that we have everything we have today," Bergeron said.

Like the past three years, the committee will be showcasing the Colt rifle at gun shows, the Marseilles Freedom Run in June and at American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts as well as many poker runs. The committee also is discussing participating in the Sandwich Fair and the possibility of a Sheridan poker run.

"This rifle will be attending a lot of shows and events," Bergeron said. "We'll be working hard to make the raffle a success. We have a lot more work to do and we want to make sure the park is something our veterans of all the wars we have fought and still fighting in the Middle East can be proud of."

Bergeron noted that while anyone can buy a ticket, the committee can't release the gun to anyone who doesn't have a firearm owner's identification card. As part of a 1968 public safety program, any Illinois resident who owns or purchases ammunition or a firearm within the state must have a valid FOID card. Applications can be picked up at any retail store that sells guns. They also can be found at www.isp.state.il.us.

Sheridan's Veterans Memorial Park raffle tickets are being sold for $10 each. A winner will be chosen Nov. 11 at Veterans Memorial Park. The winner does not need to be present. For more information, call Sheridan Village Hall at 815-496-2251 or Bergeron at 815-496-2186 or visit www.VillageofSheridan.org.