Elected officials and veterans gathered today to honor Lane Evans. They celebrated the renaming of the VA Clinic in Galesburg, for the former western Illinois congressman.
Evans represented the 17th District for more than 20 years. And, he was a long-time supporter of veterans. The district's current Representative, Cheri Bustos, honored Evans at the ceremony, which was broadcast live by Galesburg Radio station, WGIL.
Phil Hare also spoke at the ceremony. He worked with Evans for 24 years, ran his district office, and succeeded him when Evans retired. Hare says Evans was the lead congressman on the Veteran's Affairs Committee.
Hare says Evans also brought medical assistance closer to veterans, by helping to open the clinic in Galesburg, plus facilities in Quincy and Bettendorf.
Last November, Evans died at the age of 63, after suffering from Parkinson's Disease. The ceremony ended with the unveiling of the new sign, which says the Lane A. Evans VA Clinic.