Program
Illinois State Centennial March
Illinois March
1776 Medley
God Bless America
America
You’re a Grand Old Flag
King Cotton
Black Horse Troop
Liberty Bell
Washington Post
El Capitan
This is My Country
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Just a Closer Walk
Manhattan Beach
About the Event
Since 1822, when people began settling the land that would later become known as McLean County, the county and its citizens have helped shaped the history of Illinois. From being home to Illinois’s first public university (Illinois State University), aiding Abraham Lincoln’s rise to the nation’s highest office, leading the way in agricultural innovations, and producing and training internationally known circus performers, the citizens of McLean County have made an indelible mark on almost 200 years of Illinois history that is worthy of celebrating. In said celebration, the 2018 Evergreen Cemetery Walk will commemorate the bicentennial of Illinois through the stories of such featured characters as: Augusta “Gussie” Becker and Francis Cahill (housemother and resident of Illinois Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s School, played by Carolyn Stucky and Will Lovell, respectively); Henry Funk (horticulturist, apiarist, general steward of the land, and not a known relation of the well-known local Funk family, played by Todd Wineburner); Emily Vecchi and Clyde Noble (world renowned aerialists and theater enthusiasts, played by Cristen Monson and David Krostal, respectively); Jane Frakeberger Hendryx (early settler of the region that came to be known as McLean County, played by Nancy Nickerson); Lue Anna Brown Sanders Clark (supporter and active member of the black community who helped house black ISU students when they were barred from residing on campus, played by Jennifer Rusk); and Adlai E. Stevenson II (politician, diplomat, and the only Illinois Governor buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, played by Don Shandrow). These characters will not only share their stories about how they helped make 200 years of Illinois history, but they will help us continue to educate members of our community about the historical importance of cemeteries, and the need to treat them with respect and reverence. We hope to inspire direct action amongst members of our community so that they can help us spread our important message and educate others as well.To mark the special nature of this year’s theme, the Walk will also feature a 45-minute performance by the The Brass Band of Central Illinois each day of the weekend tours beginning at 1:00 p.m. Formed in 2004, BBCI is a traditional brass band based in Bloomington-Normal made up of 30 volunteer musicians who were attracted to the ensemble for its unique sound, instrumentation, and music.
Brass Band of Central Illinois 