ALAH Turned On “Lights for the Fight” Supporting Seniors & COVID Heroes

LIGHTS FOR THE FIGHT. ALAH and Arthur Park District turned on the lights at the football field/track, baseball field and softball field south and west of the high school on Friday night, April 17. This lighting ceremony was to recognize the 2020 senior student athletes, as well as thanking the healthcare workers, first responders and all other essential employees working throught this pandemic. Photo by Clayton Honn

The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond School District #305 recently joined the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) members during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine with a Lights for the Fight campaign.

Jared Vanausdoll, ALAH Athletic Director, in conjunction with the Arthur Park District, coordinated turning on the lights at the football field/track, baseball field and softball field south and west of the high school last Friday, April 17, from 8-8:20 p.m. This lighting ceremony was to recognize the 2020 senior student athletes, as well as thanking the healthcare workers, first responders and all other essential employees working through this pandemic.

Led by the Arthur Fire Department and the Village of Arthur Police Department with lights and sirens, a continuous caravan of vehicles (some decorated) included students, parents, grandparents, ALAH administration/staff, friends and members of the community proceeded down Spruce Street just on the east side of the high school driving by all three fields and exiting on the west side of the park. It was an exciting 20 minutes of solidarity honoring and thanking everyone listed above.

Horns blared all along the way and you could hear the school song being sung as car windows were down, with a few hanging out their windows cheering and chanting. Some people were standing in their sun roofs letting others know about the celebration. While all of this was well attended, the social distancing guidelines were followed and those attending were asked not to leave their vehicles.

The event started at 8 p.m. and at exactly 8:20 p.m., as the last car exited, lights were turned off and the world went back into quarantine once again.

Earlier in the day, it was announced that schools would remain closed for the remainder of this academic year.