Stateline busy with events for Memorial Day

From keynote speakers, to bands and pork chop barbecues, the Stateline Area will be bustling with Memorial Day activities this weekend.

The following is a roundup of area Memorial Day events:

Beloit and South Beloit

Memorial Day festivities in South Beloit and Beloit kick off at 6:30 a.m. Monday, with the laying of the wreath at the Beloit Rotary River Center, near the lagoon in Riverside Park. Lineup for the parade starts at 8 a.m. on Liston Avenue, one block past Oakland Avenue off Blackhawk Boulevard in South Beloit. The parade starts at 9 a.m., starting in South Beloit and ending at Horace White Park in Beloit.

“We’re happy that the downtown (construction) was completed,” said Michael Bendickson, South Beloit American Legion member. “The parade route will continue to State Street, then take a right on East Grand Avenue.”

The parade will feature some special guests, including the Navy Band from Great Lakes.

“The main purpose is to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and honor all service men and women,” said Bendickson.

Following the parade, there will be a ceremony at Horace White Park at 11:30 a.m. There will be a 10 a.m. Memorial Day Service hosted by the South Beloit Legion at South Beloit City Park. There will also be an 11 a.m. ceremony at Floral Lawns Cemetery. There will also be noon Memorial Day ceremonies at East Lawn Ceremony in Beloit and the South Beloit American Legion Post Home.

Town of Turtle

The town’s Memorial Day ceremony starts at 2 p.m. Monday at the Turtle Community Center, 6916 S. County Road J in Beloit. The parade will proceed to Turtleville and Shopiere cemeteries, then return to the community center for a video and refreshments.

“We’d love to have folks show up and celebrate the day with us,” said Roger Anclam, Town of Turtle board chair.

Roscoe

The Roscoe VFW Post 2955 will have its Memorial Day parade at 11 a.m. Monday in downtown Roscoe. Lineup will start at the corner of Bridge and Main streets at 10:30 a.m.

Rockton

The Rockton Memorial Day parade, hosted by the American Legion Walter Graham Post 332, will be held Monday, kicking off at 9 a.m. Parade participants will line up on East River Street by 8:30 a.m.

The parade will proceed north on Blackhawk Boulevard, pausing on the bridge for a wreath-throwing ceremony. Then it will continue north, turning left on Main street, continue and turn right on Center street. The parade will then turn west on Union street, then right onto West Street and proceed to the Rockton Cemetery for the Memorial Services.

Those attending the parade are asked not to park their cars along the parade route.

Clinton

Clinton’s Memorial Day parade starts at 9:30, with the lineup starting at 9 a.m. The parade will head down Main Street, through the downtown district, head up on main street, though the downtown district to head to Clinton Senior High School, 112 Milwaukee Road. There will be a program after the parade, which will feature speaker John Solis, a county service officer for Rock County.

Orfordville

Hosted by the Kenneth S. Wells American Legion Post, Auxiliary Unit and SA Squadron 209 Orfordville, the community will kick off their Memorial Day activities Monday.

The program will start at the Parkview High School gym at 10:15 a.m. Lt. Karl Hanson, an Iraq and Bosnia veteran. Following the program there will be a parade from the school to Memorial Park at the Clubhouse for the annual rededication and reading of the 166 memorialized names. The Legion Chicken and Pork Chop Barbecue will then be served in the Clubhouse. Cost for a full dinner with half chicken or one pork chop is $7, and $8.50 for two pork chops.

Delavan

Delavan kicks off its Memorial Day celebration starting Sunday, with a church service at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. Legion members should meet at the Delavan American Legion Post #95 parking lot at 9:45 a.m., then proceed to the church.

On Monday, the Delavan Memorial Day parade starts at 9 a.m. on the corner of Main Street and Walworth Avenue; line up starts at 8:45 a.m. The parade will proceed down Walworth, return on Seventh Street and then go north to the Spring Grove-St.Andrews Cemetery, where the Memorial Day ceremony will be held. The ceremony will feature Lt. Colonel John Loomer as Master of Ceremony, Poppy Princess Taiya Schroder, and keynote speaker Geoff Blumenfeld, a Marine corps captain who flies the Osprey aircraft.

Following the ceremony, the parade will proceed to Old Settler’s cemetery in downtown Delavan, where the national anthem and taps will be played, and there will be a rifle salute.

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be performed at Phoenix Middle School in Delavan starting at 9:30 a.m.

If you have any questions, contact George Ballman at 262-728-3558.

Darien

Memorial Day festivities will begin Monday at 11 a.m. at the Darien Cemetery. There will be a short parade from the Darien Fire Station to the cemetery. Post member Ken Anclan will serve as emcee, and Gary Sisk will be chaplain. Auxiliary member Marie Huisheere will present the memorial wreath, and Chris Jordan, county veterans service officer, will be the day’s speaker.

Music will be provided by the Delavan Darien High School Band, under the direction of DDHS Band Director Jim Gornic. The post firing squad will visit two area ceremonies following the program. There will be a pot luck dinner at the Darien Legion Hall at noon.

In case of inclement weather, all events will be held at the Darien Legion Hall, 24 Market St.