Guest speaker Ray McElroy, team chaplain of the Chicago Bears and former National Football League player, drops the ceremonial coin into the Salvation Army of Aurora bucket in the start of the Red Kettle kickoff. McElroy who played for the Bears, was a defensive back for six seasons for the Indianapolis Colts, the Chicago Bears, and the Detroit Lions in the NFL.
McElroy, who grew up in the Chicago area, West Side, did not receive a college scholarship for football. In his inspirational remarks, he expressed thankfulness to two college coaches who gave him the opportunity as a walk-on player at Eastern Illinois University.
The ceremonial coin drop into the red kettle marked the start of the bell-ringing fundraising season.
A video of the event can be seen by clicking here.
Jason Crane/The Voice