Rockford honors fallen servicemen with solemn Memorial Day ceremony
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — There wasn't a dry eye in the house at a solemn remembrance ceremony at Veterans Memorial Hall, honoring loved ones, friends, and other servicemen and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
'Memorial Day is not just a holiday. It is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by those who wore the uniform. These heroes defended our freedoms and never returned home,' said Winnebago County Chairman Joseph Chiarelli.
The service followed Rockford's annual Memorial Day Parade through downtown.
'It's so important to honor those who have lost their lives, who gave up their life for our freedoms and to be able to honor them is what we should be doing every day. So hopefully today, everyone can take a moment to remember what it costs for freedom,' Chiarelli said.
'I think what moves me, especially this morning, is my little daughter gave me a note that said, Thank you for your service and please don't go away to the army that long again. And I kind of teared up a little bit. And then it made me think of all the fathers and mothers and even brothers and sisters who didn't come home back to their families,' said 2nd Ward Ald. Jonathan Logeman, who also serves with the Illinois Army National Guard.
'When you think about the solemn nature of the sacrifice that we make, being home from our families or even possibly making the ultimate sacrifice, it just makes me so proud to be a part of the United States Army. Especially on a day when we think about those who did pay that ultimate sacrifice,' Logeman continued.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Caddo Parish recognizes 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Caddo Parish Commissioners honored the 250th Anniversary of the United States Army. Commissioner and Vietnam veteran Ken Epperson of District 12 read a special proclamation recognizing the upcoming anniversary and reviewing its history. He explained that on June 14, 1775, General George Washington and the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army, marking the birth of the United States Army and laying the foundation for the nation's military defense. LSA Deputy of the Year awarded to Caddo Parish Sheriff's deputy 'With the primary objective of defending the Constitution of the United States of America. Not a king, not a monarchy, not an individual. So I want us all to remember that,' Epperson said. Commissioner Epperson also read all the names of current Caddo Parish employees who served. He then listed the many inventions and breakthroughs made by the U.S. Army over the past 250 years, from roads and bridges built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after the Revolution to medical advancements made during the Civil War to the invention of mosquito repellent, the EpiPen, and Ray-Ban sunglasses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
Boats are bursting into flames in South Florida. How common is this?
Last week, two boats in Fort Lauderdale went up in flames. Friday, six boats were charred at a Sunny Isles Beach dock. READ MORE: Boat engulfed in flames ignites several vessels at Sunny Isles dock: fire rescue So, you've got to be wondering: Do Florida boaters have no clue how to operate a vessel or is this just a random twist of fate? As it turns out, boats going up in flames is not uncommon in a state that is saturated with boats, statistics show. While the number of boat fires are trending higher in Fort Lauderdale — the site of another explosion in December, killing a boater who was fueling up at Lauderdale Marina — statewide, they've actually decreased over the past five years, according to vessel accidents' data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. READ MORE: Boat explodes off the beach in Fort Lauderdale, fire-rescue says So far, in Fort Lauderdale this year, there have been six boat fires, the city's Fire Rescue department said. The department's spokesman, Frank Guzman, noted that 'not all these vessel fires had significant damage.' Last year, there were 15 boat fires in Fort Lauderdale, up from four in 2021, with 11 each in 2022 and 2023, Guzman said. Florida has more registered boats than any other state Florida averages about 35 boat fires a year, according to the FWC, which notes in its latest annual report that the state also has more than 1 million registered vessels for recreation, making it 'the undisputed 'Boating Capital of the World.'' (Michigan has the second-most boat owners.) Over the past five years, boat fire numbers have fluctuated in the state, with 41 in 2020, 37 in 2021, 33 in 2022, and 30 in 2023, the latest data available, the FWC said. Out of the 685 reportable boat accidents in Florida in 2024, 33 stemmed from fires, 17 involving fuel and 16 caused by other factors. The majority of boat accidents in Florida — 209 — involved vessels hitting fixed objects, according to the FWC. Gas vapors likely cause of Sea Ray explosion Fuel was likely the cause of the explosion of a 39-foot Sea Ray cabin cruiser in the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale on Memorial Day. Out of the 15 people on board when a fireball shot out from inside the boat, 11 were hospitalized. The operator of the boat, 29-year-old Joshua Fifi, died days later at the hospital. READ MORE: Father of four dies after Memorial Day boat explosion off Fort Lauderdale Fire officials said the blast was likely caused by fuel vapors that ignited a flash fire when the boat was started. The source of the vapors and ignition is under investigation. It was like 'a fireball,' Guzman said. Boat safety tips Boating experts stress that boaters must open their engine compartment and turn on the blower fan before starting a boat. The fan, which removes gas fumes or any accumulated gasoline, should be run for three to five minutes. Boats have ventilation switches on the dash panel that should be switched on every time a boat is used. And, they add, boaters should take a sniff test and smell for any signs of gas vapors before starting a boat. READ MORE: Two boats exploded off Fort Lauderdale within 5 months. Tips to avoid a similar fate The FWC is still investigating the cause of a 30-foot boat that went up in flames just off the beach in Fort Lauderdale two days later. There was one person on board, who jumped off the vessel and swam to shore before paramedics took him to the hospital to be treated for injuries. There have also been damaging boat fires in other parts of South Florida, the most recent a blaze that ended up burning up six boats, including a 90-foot vessel, at a Sunny Isles Beach condominium dock early Friday morning. No one was injured in the fire, which was triggered by one boat going up in flames and the blaze spreading to five other boats. Authorities are investigating. Boat fire off Jupiter The same day the Sea Ray exploded in Fort Lauderdale, a 48-foot fishing yacht caught fire off Jupiter Inlet. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Three people were on board the vessel when it caught fire, the Coast Guard said in a statement on X. They were rescued by other boaters in the area who responded to the scene. No one was hurt, according to the Coast Guard. And, a May 14 fire at a Tavernier boat yard in the Florida Keys badly damaged several vessels that were dry docked, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Rockford Pride Parade, Fire Dept's 911 3K Run to shut roads on Saturday
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Two Rockford events on Saturday will result in some road closures that motorists will need to be aware of. The second annual begins at noon on Saturday, June 7th, running on E. State Street from 3rd Street to Wyman. State Street will be closed to traffic starting at 10 a.m. Any vehicles parked in the parade route will be towed by 11 a.m., officials said. Rockford Public Schools are holding graduation ceremonies at the BMO Center at the same time, and drivers are asked to use caution. Rockford Fire Department's annual takes place on the city's East side, with road closures beginning at 7 a.m. The 911 3K Run kicks off at Fire Station #5 on Trainer Road. Parts of Trainer, Shiloh Road, and Garrett Lane will be closed during the event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
