Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city’s Memorial Day parade will step off at 9 a.m. Monday from Seventh Street and Sixth Avenue.

About 40 organizations will participate in this year’s parade, according to Scott Lewandowski, director of Veterans Memorial Hall.

The parade proceeds north on Seventh Street to East State Street, west on State to Wyman Street and north on Wyman ending at Veterans Memorial Hall, where a memorial rose ceremony and moment of silence for fallen soldiers will be held. There will also be a program with comments from Rear Admiral Nathan E. Jones, Illinois state Sen. Steve Stadelman and Winnebago County  Board Chairman Joseph Chiarelli.

Activities continue immediately following the Memorial Day ceremony with the annual Sinking of the Ship ceremony, a Rockford tradition that dates back to 1935. That ceremony is held on the river bank behind the Luther Center at 113 N. Wyman St.