Memorial Day, Monday May 30 2022, marks the 154th anniversary of General John Logan’s general order #11 which created “Decoration Day,” designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country.
This year’s Memorial Day events will include:
– The Parade, a Rockford tradition since 1870, remembering our fallen by Area Veterans Organizations, school bands, Police and Fire Departments and organizations that continually support area Veterans.
– A Memorial Day Ceremony, following the parade on the Wyman St. side of Veterans Memorial Hall and Museum.
– The annual Navy Club Ship #1’s Sinking of the Ship ceremony, following the Memorial Day Ceremony to be held on the Rock River bank behind the Luther Center at State and Wyman.
The Memorial Day Parade – 9:00 am. All parade units will line up near the intersection of 7th St. and 6th Ave. the parade will proceed at 9:00 AM north on 7th St. to Charles St., Charles St. to State St. units will then travel west on State St. and turn north on Wyman St. and then proceed north to Beattie Park where the parade will end. Unit review and commentary will be at the Armistice Peace Memorial on the east side of Veterans Memorial Hall.
Once the parade has ended at approximately 10:00 am, N. Wyman St between Mulberry St and Jefferson St will remain closed and the Memorial Day Program will begin. This year’s program will include comments from Rear Admiral (Retired) Nathan E. Jones, Illinois State Senator Steve Stadelman, Winnebago County Board Chairman Joseph Chiarelli. We will conclude the ceremony with a moment of silence followed by a Memorial Rose ceremony Presented by Barb Martin with Unity Hospice and Palliative Care and the playing of Taps by Montford Point Marines, Beloit-Rockford Chapter # 41 President, Stanley “Curly” Thompson.
The Memorial Day activities will continue immediately following Veterans Memorial Hall’s Memorial Day Ceremony with the annual riverside Sinking of the Ship Ceremony a Rockford tradition since 1935, the ceremony will honor the 100 year of the Navy Club Ship #1 and including the reading of General Order #11, a wreath presentation, Remarks from Rear Admiral (Retired) Nathan E. Jones, a 21-gun salute by the Rockford Detachment Marine Corp League and the sinking of the ship presented by the Navy Club Ship #1 on the river bank behind the Luther Center 113 N Wyman St.
