“Armistice-A Memorial to Peace” Dedication Ceremony

11-11-2016

Who: Veterans Memorial Hall, Daughters of the American Revolution-Rockford Chapter

Where: Veterans Memorial Hall 211 N Main St Rockford IL 61101 Eastside of the building

When: Friday November 11th 2016- 10:30 AM

What: “Armistice-A Memorial to Peace” Dedication Ceremony

This Veterans Day we will unveil and introduce to the community a new historical memorial “Armistice-A Memorial To Peace”. Our dedication ceremony will mirror one of the first citywide Armistice programs which occurred on the east side of Veterans Memorial Hall in 1933. The dedication will include as much of the original 1933 event elements as possible. A moment of silence at 11 AM, an address from Illinois 16th District Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a 21 gun salute by Rockford Detachment 083, Marine Corps League and the playing of taps will be a part of the dedication. The site grounds will be adorned with poppies created by Easter Seal kids similar to the 1933 ceremony. The Memorial will honor Veterans and educate the community of past Armistice/Veterans Day events at its location as well as inform visitors about the Civil War Statue mounted on a Column from Rockford’s original Carnegie Library. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.

Why

Rockford Illinois has a long standing history with November 11th starting with a reunion dinner held by the Veterans of the Spanish American War in 1898 to the current annual Veterans Day dinner. Veterans Memorial Hall has been a part of honoring Veterans since it opened in 1903 when the S.A.W.V. held their reunion banquet here on that date. Once it was proclaimed Armistice Day in 1919 the hall became a focal point for future ceremonies. One such program took place in 1933; the day’s events included a parade, a formal ceremony at the very location where this memorial is as well as a formal dance that evening. Poppies were place on the ground in the thousands that day to pay tribute to Flanders Fields, a common English name of the World War I battlefields. Following the trench warfare which took place in the poppy fields of Flanders, during the 1st World War, poppies have become a symbol of remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime.