Emergency Vehicle Procession Honors REACT Crew Members

The crew members of the REACT helicopter will be honored with a fire and rescue community tradition.  The victims' bodies will return to the helicopter hanger at Rockford Memorial to complete their mission.  Flight nurse Jim Dillow, flight nurse Karen Hollis and pilot Andy Olesen lost their lives on December 10 when their helicopter crashed in a Lee County farm field.

Members of the regional community of fire, police and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel will escort the three bodies in a procession that will depart from the Ogle County Sheriff's office in Oregon at 10 a.m.

Following a moment of recognition at the hangar, the procession will then depart for individual funeral homes.

Members of the public and the media are invited to line the route of the processional and/or be present at the hangar when the processional arrives.  Those who choose to await the processional at the hangar should arrive between 10:15 A.M. and 10:30 A.M.

The Route:

Departing Oregon, Ill. from the Ogle County Sheriff's Office at about 10 a.m.
Turn right on Washington Street
Take the 3rd left on to North River Road
Continue straight on to IL-72 E
Turn left on to North Kishwaukee Road
Turn left on to Kishwaukee Road
Continue on to Airport Drive
Turn left on to Beltline Road
Slight right on to IL-2 North/South Main Street
Turn left on to South Springfield Ave.
Turn right on to Auburn Street
Turn left on to Kilburn Ave.
Turn right on to Glenwood Ave. and arrive at the REACT hangar at about 10:45 a.m.