LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
CASEY— On Jan. 12, 1981, Charles Lamb was born in Paris. According to his friends and family, Lamb was an outdoorsman and hero, a family man with a signature smile who enjoyed fishing and recreational vehicles. He joined the Paris-based 1544th Army National Guard Transportation Unit destined to serve his country with his vivacious spirit as a Specialist E-4.
Tragically, on Sept. 5, 2004, Lamb and four other selfless American heroes lost their lives in Baghdad during a mortar attack while on deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Twenty years have passed since the somber event, but the family and friends of Lamb scattered across Clark, Coles and Edgar County have not forgotten his memory, or his sacrifice.
In 2016, several of Lamb’s family members began a campaign to have a portion of an Illinois highway in Casey renamed in his honor. Their relentless pursuit caught the admiration of State Senator Chapin Rose and State Representative Adam Neimerg, who recently pushed the cause into the Illinois Senate.
“They were very persistent,” Neimerg explained.
On Memorial Day weekend, the years of hard work and dedication paid off when House Grant Resolution 50 passed on May 25.
This Wednesday, June 26, friends and family members gathered at the Casey VFW Post 5762 to honor the life and sacrifices of Lamb and to unveil a newly created highway sign bearing Lamb’s name. The sign declares “Army Specialist Charles Lamb Memorial Highway”, it will be placed over a newly named section on Illinois Route 40, in honor of the fallen soldier.
A special ceremony held before the sign reveal allowed those impacted by Lamb’s life the opportunity to honor his memory and share their sentiments.
“Although he cannot be here today, we extend a thank you to each and every one of you for helping us remember him and sharing all the memories you have of our uncle,” a niece of the late Lamb, Ambrosia Branson, said. “Our thank you is to our Uncle Charlie, for making the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and for all of us.”
Three retired members of the 1544th unit also shared memories of Lamb. Master Sargeant Tony Evans referred to his friend as “Lampchop” a name recognized by nearly everyone in attendance with fondness.
“I know it was 20 years ago, but to many of you I am sure it does not feel like 20 years,” he said. “He deserves this, Lambchop, he deserves this recognition.”
Retired Specialist Aaron Wernz, who was injured in the same attack that took Lamb’s life, recalled the last moments he shared with his friend, in a Baghdad hospital where neither one had the ability to speak with one another.
“Although I will never know the final thoughts of Charlie on this Earth, I imagine they were not all that different than mine, concern for the condition of a fellow solider and friend, and a desire that my family knew I loved them,” Wernz said. “We must always remember that no matter how nice and heartfelt a tribute is, it cannot compare to the sacrifice of the life that was given by Charlie, and years spent absent from his family and his friends.”
Among the neighbors, coworkers, friends and family crowded into the VFW building, several recalled Lamb’s good nature and playfulness, alongside his joy-filled personality and a desire to see good in the world, many choosing the word “hero” to describe Lamb.
The definition of a hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or a noble cause, retired First Sargeant Tyler Heleine said. He believes Lamb is the definition of a true hero.
“Chuck had a calmness about him that was truly remarkable,” Heleine said. “He had a smile and grin that would light up a room…Memorial Day exists because of men and women like Chuck, those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. This portion of road is a reminder to all of us who pass by it of the bravery, selflessness and dedication that Chuck displayed in his service.”
With few dry eyes under the VFW roof, the official signage for the new “Army Specialist Charles Lamb Memorial Highway” was revealed by a plethora of 1544th members, past and present. Memorial plaques were handed out to family members, in addition to copies of House Grant Resolution 50, read by Rose.
“There are no words to convey the immense appreciation and gratitude this state, and this nation, have for men and women like Charlie, and his family members,” Rose said. “It is our honor to recognize them with these memorial highways.”
State representatives will return to Edgar County on July 6 to reveal an additional memorial sign for a section of Route 133 in Oakland.
“Lieutenant Jared W. Southworth Memorial Highway” will honor a member of the Illinois National Guard member and Army Ranger who died in Afghanistan in 2009.
Lutenant Southworth, an Oakland native who worked part-time as a police officer in the village prior to his deployment, died from an improvised explosive device. He received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his sacrifice.
Ceremonies honoring and remembering Southworth’s sacrifice begin at 9 a.m. on July 6.