OPINION: Illinois House votes to name part of Route 30 in memory of Fox Valley veterans advocate Herschel Luckinbill

Apr. 9—It's always encouraging to see Democrats and Republicans come together in Springfield, especially during an election year with the underdog GOP determined to at least get its candidate into the governor's office for more political balance to the state.

This latest bipartisan lovefest, however, was a no-brainer.

Democrat Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, representing the 84th District, teamed up with Republican Rep. Keith Wheeler of the 50th District, as well as Democrat Rep. Barbara Hernandez, of the 83rd District, to co-sponsor a resolution that would designate a section of Route 30 as "Herschel Luckinbill Road," in honor of the late Navy veteran who did so much for fellow vets in the Fox Valley.

I listed some of Herschel's myriad accomplishments in a column last summer about his unexpected death that occurred a few months after he and wife Eva had retired to Tennessee. And in fact, reviewing that list while preparing this column, I found myself again shaking my head in amazement at how much this man, known as "Mr. Veteran," accomplished after returning from the Vietnam War.

Luckinbill, only 19 when he was serving as a machinist aboard the USS O'Brien, saw two of his friends killed and four more wounded when the destroyer was hit by direct fire from the enemy a few days before Christmas 1966.

Survivor's guilt, Herschel would insist, when asked about the tireless crusade for veterans he seemed to be on for so many years.

Among the projects and groups he spearheaded, sponsored or helped lead: Aurora Navy League Council; Aurora Veterans Council; local and district VFW posts; Vietnam Moving Wall (brought to both Aurora and Oswego); Hometown Heroes Nite Out; Veterans Serenity Park; Middle East Conflicts Wall of Honor; Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club; and Honor Flight Chicago, where he not only raised $50,000 but served as guardian on 25 of these trips that took veterans to Washington, D.C.

That list, lengthy though it might be, is not even complete, which is why naming a section of Route 30 in Kendall County — from Douglas Road to River Road — after this passionate advocate for veterans really is a no-brainer.

Not only did Herschel Luckinbill accomplish so much for veterans in our area, he encouraged others who may not have had that same energy "to stay active and engaged in the community," noted Kifowit in a press release announcing the Illinois House resolution.

In the past, the Oswego state rep also spearheaded a movement to get another part of Route 30 named after controversial former Aurora mayor Paul Egan for his efforts in rerouting this major road south of downtown Aurora.

That effort died in the Senate. But that won't be the fate of this current Route 30 resolution because, as Wheeler told me on Thursday, Herschel — who was one of his constituents — was "the least controversial, most beloved" member of the community.

"You always took his phone calls, even when you knew he was going to be asking for something for one of his causes," Wheeler said. And "he was passionate about bringing people together," which is certainly a quality we need more of from our leaders.

"Herschel was about country, about community, which should always be at the top of our minds, in daily life and in what we do in Springfield," said Wheeler, noting that he "was very proud" of Kifowit, a veteran herself, for "taking the reins" on this resolution.

"Herschel was also all about bringing people together," said Wheeler. "He had the right motivations. And he included everybody."

dcrosby@tribpub.com

.

___

(c)2022 The Beacon-News (Aurora, Ill.)

Visit The Beacon-News (Aurora, Ill.) at www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.