Thousands come out to see Memorial Day Parade

By Doug Schroder

Editor

PECATONICA – Beautiful sunny weather with a high in the 80’s led to many coming out to see the 2016 Memorial Day Parade in Pecatonica on Monday, May 30. Parade organizer George Anderson did another fine job in getting it all together.

Parade goers started saving their spots by placing chairs along the route as early as 8 a.m. When I rolled into town at 11:30 a.m. there were many empty chairs lining the streets in anticipation of the 2 p.m. start.

This year I decided to do something different and ride in the parade, as opposed to years before where I would hang out on the corner of Main and Fourth Streets and take pictures. So I went to the Winnebago County Fairgrounds, where the parade starts, and was able to find a ride along with church members on the PECUMC wagon.

The beginning of the parade didn’t seem to have as many attendees lining the street, but as we got closer to Main Street the crowd got much more dense.

Besides taking pictures I also helped by throwing out candy. Kids, both large and small, always enjoy getting candy at the parade. PECUMC handed out over 20 lbs of candy during the parade. Dentists in the town really get a benefit from that!

Pecatonica Village President and PECUMC member, Dan Barber, joined up with us on the wagon just before we got to Main Street. Dan had already made one trip through the parade, as he was part of the leading procession to start the parade.

After making it through the parade route, we went back to the fairgrounds, where I got in my car to go back to the Gazette office. I thought the parade would have been over by then, but no, it continued on for about another 45 minutes.

I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day and remembered those who died in service to our country. I thanked several Veterans that day.

Doug Schroder photo Shriners drive their “airplanes” as the 2016 Memorial Day Parade snakes through Pecatonica on Monday, May 30.