King Neptune, the Navy mascot pig - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

War Bonds were bought and sold during World War 2 and afterwards to help regulate the US economy during war time. The War Bonds were sold in monetary units that were affordable to the common citizen during the time of war and during the time of recovery after the war. To help understand the impressive amount of money raised by King Neptune, the $19 million dollars raised then would equate to about $308 million dollars in 2019!

King Neptune was a pig born in 1942 that was bought by a Navy recruiter to not only help enlistment into the US Navy, but also to raise much needed money so the US government could fund the war effort with public supplementation of funds. Much of the 19 million dollars King Neptune raised from 1942 to 1950, when the pig died, were directed toward building the battleship "USS Illinois" (BB-65) from 1942 through 1946. Unfortunately, by 1946, the ship was not completed when the Navy decided to scrap the uncompleted ship's hull that was only 25% completed. The Navy has loaned the ship's bell to Illinois University at Urbana-Champaign, where it is rung when their football team makes a home game touchdown.

By 1950, King Neptune, the pig, had retired to a farm and eventually died. The pig was given a military burial in honor of his contribution toward the war effort over his lifetime. According to Wikipedia, this monument at the Northbound Rest Area is the replacement memorial for the original granite marker that was heavily vandalized and broken apart at its original burial site in a small local park beside IL146. In the 1980's, this bronze plaque memorial was placed at this rest area.

This memorial plaque reads as follows:

"Memorial
King Neptune
1942 - 1950
Navy Mascot Pig

Raised by Patty Boner, West Frankfort;
Given to Navy Recruiter Don Lingle, Anna;
and auctioned by L Oard Sitter, Anna.
Around the State of Illinois for
over $19,000,000 in WW II War Bonds."


Wikipedia link to King Neptune:
(visit link)

Wikipedia lLink to history of the USS Illinois, BB-65:
(visit link)

Date of Dedication: 01/01/1989 Property Permission: Public Access instructions: Northbound I-57 Rest Area about a mile from the MO-IL state boundary line. Website for Waymark: [Web Link] Location of waymark: N I-57 Anna, IL USA 92906 Commemoration: A Navy recruiter auctioned a mascot pig to buy War Bonds to fund building the battleship. Illinois BB- 65. Access times: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/16/2020 WayBetterFinder visited it