Obituaries
River Forest Mourns Loss of Anne Smedinghoff With White Ribbons, American Flags
Smedinghoff, a 25-year-old River Forest resident, was killed in a car bombing Saturday in Afghanistan. Residents are tying white ribbons around their trees and displaying American flags. Free ribbons and flags are available tonight.
The Village of River Forest is mourning the loss of 25-year-old Anne Smedinghoff, a U.S. diplomat who was killed during a car bombing in Afghanistan on April 6.
Arrangements are still pending, but many community members have tied white ribbons around their trees and displayed American flags at their homes.
"The white ribbons symbolize the peace Anne bravely and passionately worked so hard to bring to the world," village president John Rigas said in a news release.
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The flag at Village Hall will be flown at half-staff until Smedinghoff is laid to rest, Rigas said.
A group from First Presbyterian Church has set up a service to pick up white ribbons and American flags for those wishing to support the Smedinghoff family.
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The church offered to purchase the ribbons and flags and will have them available from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday in its parking lot at 7551 Quick Ave. in River Forest. Drivers can enter the parking lot just south of Oak Street on Lathrop Avenue, pick up ribbons and flags and continue to the exit on Jackson Street.
Rigas said that people are welcome to donate a new or gently used children's book as “payment” for the supplies. The group will collect the books and donate them to a local children's charity in honor of Smedinghoff's final mission.
Smedinghoff, of River Forest, is a 2001 graduate of St. Luke School and a 2005 graduate of Fenwick High School. She attended Johns Hopkins University and joined the foreign service right out of college.
She was killed along with three U.S. soldiers and a civilian employee of the defense department while traveling to deliver books to a local school in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan.
Smedinghoff's parents, as well as Secretary of State John Kerry, have released statements about her death. Read more here:
U.S. Diplomat From River Forest Killed in Afghanistan
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