Shorter route approved for Roscoe Memorial Day Parade

The Veterans of Foreign War's annual Memorial Day Parade in Roscoe will be held as scheduled.

Village trustees unanimously approved a special-use permit Tuesday night paving the way for the parade from downtown Roscoe to the Roscoe Cemetery.

The parade was in jeopardy of being canceled after village officials expressed concerns in recent weeks over a lack of information on parade participants and low turnout.

Dozens of veterans attended the village's board meeting Tuesday to show their support to the VFW and the parade.

More: Roscoe's Memorial Day Parade is in limbo, organizers turn to public for support

VFW Post 2955 Commander Ruben Hernandez was pleased with the board's decision. He said the parade was never about entertainment or large numbers.

"It's supposed to be a day of reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the U.S. military, police and fire," he said.

VFW members are working to build parade participation back up to its pre-COVID levels.

Hernandez also expressed his gratitude to the police department as Chief Sam Hawley and two officers, who are also veterans, who will be volunteering their time to work at the parade.

"Any time you have veterans serving in the police or fire department, that's important," Hernandez said.

The special-use permit calls for an altered parade route that will be shorter than planned.

The parade will begin at Bridge and Main streets and will travel north on Main and east on Harrison Street before ending at the Roscoe Cemetery where the names of veterans buried in the cemetery will be read followed by a rifle salute and the playing of taps.

Chris Green is a Rockford Register Star general assignment reporter. He can be reached at 815-987-1241, via email at cgreen@rrstar.com and X @chrisfgreen.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Roscoe trustees pave way for VFW's Memorial Day Parade