Highland Alum Welds 'River Eagle' Sculpture

Jay Castro of Freeport retired from teaching art at Freeport High School years ago but recently returned to his welding roots at Highland Community College to complete his "River Eagle" sculpture, which is planned to display in June at Marquette Park in Savanna, Ill. Castro, a Navy veteran, wanted to add a metal sculpture that portrays an eagle draping the American flag over a cross symbolizing the United States and its fallen veterans.

The steel used for the sculpture was salvaged from the Savanna-Sabula bridge that once crossed the Mississippi River until it was replaced in 2018. Highland Co...