Events honoring fallen veterans on Memorial Day 2011

Staff Report

Annual Memorial Day Parade—Monday, May 30, 9 a.m. in downtown Rockford from Seventh Street to Beattie Park along the customary parade route. This year’s parade Grand Marshal will be U.S. Navy Naval Service Command Commander Rear Admiral David F. Steindl. View the veterans organization representing all branches of service. Area police and firefighters, along with many local school marching bands, will participate as well.

Annual Naval Ceremony—immediately following the parade. Gather behind the downtown Rockford Public Library for the annual Navy ceremony of the sinking of the ship and the reading of Gen. John A. Logan’s General Order No. 11, creating Decoration Day, a/k/a Memorial Day. Rear Admiral David F. Steindl will be a featured speaker in recognition of the 100th anniversary of Great Lakes Naval Station.

Veterans Memorial Hall—May 30, 11 a.m. to noon. Memorial Day Program featuring the history of the Grand Army of the Republic (Civil War veterans), the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, and the story of Maj. Gen. John Logan. Many participants will be in Civil War attire. Program presented by the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War and Veterans Memorial Hall.

Veterans Memorial Hall—May 31, 4 p.m. Performance by U.S. Navy Band Great Lakes. U.S. Navy Band Great Lakes celebrates 100 years of “Pride in Service” in 2011. From its first performance in July 1911, to Lt. John Philip Sousa’s 300-piece Bluejacket Band to today’s continuing mission of representing Commander, Naval Service Training Command, the band enjoys a rich history of serving the sailors and citizens of the Midwest with pride and distinction. Prior to the band’s performance, see a special video presentation of the Pillars of Honor, an original scale model of the National World War II Memorial. This model was used for the presentation of the concept for what is now a prestigious memorial to permanently provide respect and remembrance of our WWII veterans.

From the May 25-31, 2011 issue