History-making presidential visit caps record-setting labor deal
History was made in Belvidere when U.S. President Joe Biden rallied Thursday with United Auto Workers to celebrate victory in a labor strike that's ending with an agreement by Stellantis to invest $5 billion to expand and reopen the idled Belvidere Assembly Plant.
"I was thrilled to join workers to savor the winning combination of their solidarity and state financial incentives made possible by the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act that I sponsored and passed in Springfield," Stadelman said. "I can't wait for the first of the new EV truck products to roll off the assembly line."
A battery plant and parts distribution center in Belvidere also are called for under the deal between UAW and Stellantis. The strike was the longest against the nation's Big 3 automakers in 25 years, and Biden's visit marked the first speech in the Rockford area by a sitting president since 1976 when Gerald Ford addressed a crowd at CherryVale Mall. Airforce One landed at the Chicago-Rockford International Airport, and Biden traveled by motorcade to the rally at the Community Building in downtown Belvidere, where he was joined on stage by Local 1268 workers and introduced by 1268 President Matt Franzen.
Observe Veterans Day by visiting or contributing to Illinois' Veteran History Project
State Senator Steve Stadelman is encouraging Illinois military veterans and their families to share their stories, photos and mementos for future generations as part of the Illinois Veterans History Project.
The statewide initiative collects, preserves and makes accessible first-hand recollections of veterans and civilians who served the five military branches. Stadelman suggested Veteran's Day weekend is an ideal time submit material to the Illinois Secretary of State's Office, which digitizes them and makes them available online.
"It's a hands-on way for veterans and their families to share their experiences," Stadelman said, "and for Illinois to memorialize the contributions of those who have served our country so their sacrifices are not forgotten."
Veterans can obtain an Illinois Patriot Information Form online and submit them electronically to
Currerntly, the collection contains more than 6,700 records from Illinois veterans, including 675 oral histories, dating from the Civil War to those serving on active duty. You can search the IVHP collection by name, war and hometown of veterans and view oral history interviews.
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