Led by the Road Soldiers, a bike club started out of River47, scores of children were excited to see Santa arrive on a Harley, says Pastor Frank Riley.
One mother, looking at her children clutching two gifts, said, “These are the only Christmas gifts my children will be receiving this year. Thank you so much.” A member of the Road Soldiers nicknamed Rottweiler pulled the woman aside and quietly gave her two more gifts, “For under the tree.”
A seven-year-old approached One Eyed Joe – who really has lost one eye and has one now tattooed on his forehead – to ask, “Can you get my daddy a job?” Joe began to tear up as he told the story to Riley.
“A seven-year-old shouldn’t have to worry about his daddy’s job at Christmas,” Joe said.
Red Cross Honors Harold Ahlberg
GALESBURG, IL – The Western Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross dedicated the Harold Ahlberg Memorial Lobby earlier this month in honor of his longtime commitment to the organization.
Ahlberg, a retired Evangelical Covenant Church pastor, died in 2007. Memorial funds contributed $30,000 to help pay off the chapter’s mortgage debt. Current and former Galesburg church members contributed to the fun.
Ahlberg served on the chapter’s board, was a blood donor, and served on the committee that oversaw purchase of the building. The accompanying photo shows (from left) James and Elaine Ahlberg of Rochell, Ilinois; David Ahlberg of DuBois, Pennsylvania; and Caroline and Jonathan Ahlberg of Perrysburg, Ohio. Not pictured are David’s wife, Mary, who was unable to attend; another Ahlberg sibling, Natalie Firestone and her husband, Frank, of Porter, Indiana; and Harold’s widow, Ruth.
