For Release: Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Contact: Frank Miles: (618) 233-8026

U.S. CONGRESSMAN JERRY COSTELLO PRESENTS MEDALS TO WIFE OF AREA VETERAN

New Athens, IL - On Tuesday, October 29, 2002, U.S. Representative Jerry Costello, (D-Ill) presented several military medals to honor the military service of the late Melvin Keil of New Athens. Costello presented the medals to Mr. Keil's wife Maelene at the New Athens Village Hall in New Athens, Illinois.

In September of this year, Ms. Keil requested Congressman Costello's help in obtaining her late husband's service medals. Melvin Keil, who passed away in 1989, was a U.S. Army veteran of WW 2 who served in several campaigns in southern Europe.

Among the medals that were awarded posthumously to Mr. Keil are the Bronze Star, the Good Conduct medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal and Bronze Star attachment, the WW 2 Victory medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.

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