Solemn Memorial Day observations held in the Rockford region

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Communities across the Rockford region spent Monday honoring military servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.

Rockford residents lined the streets to watch the annual Memorial Day Parade, which has been held each year downtown, since 1870.

Following the parade, a brief ceremony was held in front of Veterans Memorial Hall, at 211 N Main Street, consisting of a moment of silence, a memorial rose ceremony, and the playing of Taps.

“Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor those whose lives were lost while serving the United States military. Let us remember those who lost their lives at home, who battled the invisible wounds of war, and those who contracted illnesses and took their last breath many years later. Today, I say their names to ensure that we, as Americans, never forget their sacrifice,” said Jesus Pereira, of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Winnebago County.

At the LZ Peace Memorial, at Midway Village Museum, veterans of the Vietnam War and their families gathered for a day of prayer and poetry.

“I think those … 69 guys on that wall are still around in spirit form and they help us get all this good weather,” said Sgt. Nick Parnello, of the Vietnam Veterans Honor Society. “But it was a wonderful day, well attended. And you just need to meet some old friends and veterans that we can give each other another hug.”

The LZ Peace Memorial will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.

Elsewhere, on the Rock River, the Rockford Navy Club #1 conducted the annual “Sinking of the Ship” ceremony, which honors sailors who lost their lives. The ceremony included the sinking of a miniature battleship, along with a wreath presentation and a 21-gun salute.

Navy Veteran Eugene Koelker said the ceremony was a way of “honoring all of the people who have been lost at sea. It isn’t just Navy people: it’s all of our service people and others, and we take that seriously.”

Rockford Navy Club #1 was the first Navy Club in America, and now it stands as one of 26 remaining.

Winnebago County’s oldest cemetery, Kishwaukee Cemetery, in Stillman Valley, dates back to the Revolutionary War. On Monday, the Kishwaukee Cemetery Association hosted its 154th consecutive Memorial Day Remembrance with over 100 people in attendance.

Veterans from the American Revolution, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and II, through the Korean War, are buried in the cemetery, located south of Condon Road.

“When I was a little kid and I was ten years old, there would be maybe 50 people here. But, it’s grown since then,” said William Condon, the association’s former treasurer. “We’ve spread the word to people and tried to make Memorial Day compete with all the other holidays.”

Pecatonica’s parade featured members of the police and fire departments, the Boys and Girls Scouts of Illinois, and included many local high school bands and cheerleaders.

Pecatonica resident and veteran Carl Sterling said, “[This is] for all the boys that didn’t come home. And the ones that came home didn’t come home whole. So, this is very, very meaningful for me, to come and watch the parade and give them my respect, just respect for their country, for the people who have given the ultimate sacrifice.”

The Village of Roscoe came together to honor the fallen with a parade put on by Roscoe VFW Post 2955.

The Roscoe parade almost didn’t happen this year, due to a lack of participation last year, but village leaders and the VFW were able to make a last-minute agreement.

According to the Village, the number of marchers in this year’s parade doubled the amount from last year.

Ruben Hernandez, Commander of Roscoe VFW Post 2599, said, “For everyone else, even Rockton and Winnebago, and surrounding areas that have the Memorial parade, and for us not to have it, it would be a sad day for those fallen and the families of those who lost their loved ones.”

The parade ended at the Roscoe Township Cemetery, where a short memorial service was held.

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