Fred Best, (second from right), descendant of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument builders, accepts a plaque during the Bureau County History Center America 250th celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2026 at Soldiers and Sailors Park in Princeton. Best's grandfather and father built the 50-foot-tall monument in 1913. (Scott Anderson) PrincetonFourth of JulyHistoryIllinois Valley Front Headlines Scott Anderson Over 15 years covering news, sports and events in the Illinois Valley.