ARCOLA TO HOST HISTORIC MILITARY FAMILY IN 75TH MEETING BETWEEN VILLA GROVE AND ARCOLA FOOTBALL
by Kevin Monahan
Arcola, Illinois - This Friday, 9/22, in the 75th meeting between the two high school football teams, Arcola and Villa Grove will celebrate the Ghere family, one family who touched both towns.
During WWII, 7 brothers in the Ghere family served, and one was killed in action.
Pre-game ceremony 6:50 p.m.
Friday, September 22, 2023
Thomas-Bradford Field
Arcola High School
An estimated 40 Ghere descendants to be in attendance and will present the game ball.
Arcola and Villa Grove VFWs will participate in the pre-game ceremony with an honor guard.
When Villa Grove fans leave their home football field named ‘Russ Ghere Field’ on Friday night, they will travel to longtime county and conference foe Arcola and in doing so, they’ll turn into Arcola High School’s Thomas-Bradford Field off ‘Ghere Brothers Memorial Highway’ on Rte 133.
In Arcola, the Ghere legend is poignant and memorable and serves as the Arcola version of ‘Saving Private Ryan’. Arcola-born Roy and Lillie Ghere sent all 7 of their sons to fight in WWII. One son, Bobby, was killed in action in Germany in 1945. The other 6 brothers went on to become model citizens and community leaders.
As high schoolers at AHS in the 30s and 40s, the brothers starred on some of the greatest Arcola football teams ever to play.
One of the Ghere brothers, Russ, achieved great success as a coach at Villa Grove from the late 1950s to mid-70s.
Many of the children of the Ghere Brothers (and their 10 sisters), their own children, and grandchildren are set to attend the Friday night game.
The family will be escorted into AHS prior to the game to view the tribute to the Ghere Brothers in hallway between the Jr High and HS gymnasiums as well as view the graduation pictures of several generations of Gheres. The family will present the game ball at the opening coin toss. An estimated 40 Ghere Brothers descendants are expected to attend.
VFWs from both towns will be participating in the presentation of the national anthem.
The game, unofficially titled the ‘Ghere Bowl’, is likely to begin presenting a traveling trophy honoring both towns' appreciation for the Ghere Family.
Arcola leads the all-time series 49-24-1. The teams first met in 1904.
Update 9/19/23
*We will have a National Guard UH-72 Lakota and a Blackhawk helicopter arriving to the practice field (West of the football field) between 2-2:10 p.m. From 3:20 – post kickoff (roughly 7:10 p.m.), these air transport vehicles will be open to the public for viewing/pictures. The helicopters will depart at aprx 7:30 p.m. Students will be able to view immediately after school.