CLINTON — The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau announced this week that Jeff Morlock has been named as the 2019 Clinton Christmas Parade Grand Marshal. Jeff was nominated by numerous people. Excerpts from one nomination letter reads as follows:

“Jeff has coordinated the Welcome Home Ceremony for 5 years in Clinton for Veterans returning from the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to Washington D.C. He has always been interested in Veterans since he was young. He enjoyed talking to his Grandfather who was a World War II Veteran. He's read many books on the Vietnam War, so he understands these Veterans were not welcomed home after their sacrifice to our Country. He has taken 4 Honor Flights as a Guardian at his own expense. The first flight he took was when he saw the need for a Welcome Home Ceremony. He goes to schools asking the students to write letters to the Veterans to deliver to them on the Flights to D.C., coordinates the State, County, Police, Fire Department and DeWitt County EMS for the escort back to Clinton, makes sure U.S. Flags are placed on route to Clinton, and at the Veteran's home that are on the Honor Flight. Veterans' groups here (in Clinton) place the flags. When the Veterans return for the Honor Ceremony, he introduces them and reads everything they did while in active duty. He gets applications for the Flights to Veterans and makes sure they are aware of everything involved, especially if they will need a wheel chair, oxygen, etc. for the trip. He is always in Springfield at the airport to welcome them home, even though it is difficult to do since he works out of state."

The Clinton Chamber of Commerce congratulated Morlock on being selected Clinton Christmas Parade Grand Marshal for 2019 and thanked him for his dedication to the veterans of Clinton, DeWitt County and the surrounding area.

Jeff will ride in a vehicle near the front of the Clinton Christmas Parade on Saturday, November 30, at 2 p.m., driven by his father and mother, Stan and Cheryl Morlock.