Vietnam veteran who always ‘puts other people before himself’ honored by Randy Palmeri & Son

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Nick Parnello has spent decades working to make sure his fellow veterans are properly honored and recognized. On Monday, it was his turn to be celebrated.

Parnello is this year’s recipient of a free exterior home makeover from Randy Palmeri & Son, which picks a deserving veteran to provide new roof, siding and other home improvements. It also comes with landscaping this year in partnership with Tuscan Landscapes.

“He’s just always doing (things) for other people, most things people don’t even know about,” said U.S. Marine veteran Terry Coffman, who nominated Parnello for the award.

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Parnello was surprised Monday by the company, as well as friends and fellow veterans, at his west side home. The improvements are expected to take about a week to complete.

Parnello started the Vietnam Veterans Society in 1984 to recognize and pay homage to veterans. He’s also the founder of Operation Fallen Flags, which uses a 1989 Chevrolet boom truck to replace torn and tattered flags. He was also one of the driving forces — along with Tony Bove, Paul Cassioppi and Tony Circelli — behind the creation of the LZ Peace Memorial, 6799 Guilford Road, which was dedicated on Memorial Day 2005. The memorial includes a Wall of Honor in tribute to military members from Winnebago County who died in Vietnam.

Parnello and his fellow Smoke Brothers, a volunteer group of mostly veterans, organize a slew of events and programs to help and honor veterans.

“A lot of the big events we’re on TV for, but he does a lot behind the scenes that people don’t even know about,” said Coffman, a fellow Smoke Brother. “He puts other people before himself and he lets himself go, maybe he lets his property go a little bit. I know he needed a little help.”

Parnello often deflects credit from himself and toward his fellow Smoke Brothers and other veterans. He did so again on Monday, calling out credit to his fellow veterans after they surprised him at his home with Randy and Laura Palmeri and others.

“All these guys have such talents,” Parnello said. “If I went through and told you every one of them, they all deserve this award.”

He also used the moment to let people know the LZ Peace Memorial would host a Purple Heart memorial dedication at 11 a.m. on May 4.

Palmeri & Son takes special pride in helping veterans whenever they can, Randy Palmeri said. It’s been eight years now that they’ve tackled an annual project for a veteran, the last six being a complete exterior makeover.

“It was a very moving moment,” Parnello said. “I’m just glad I’m not the first.”

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Laura Palmeri spearheads the program to honor a veteran each year. She said she was 13 when she first learned of the work Parnello does for the community’s veterans, and was glad to see him nominated for the gift.

“I just always remember that as a young person, how helpful he is in this community, so we’re just trying to give back,” she said.

The hardest part each year is choosing just one winner, Randy Palmeri said.

“Our military veterans are absolute heroes, and we can’t do enough to repay the people who provided the blanket of freedom that we sleep under every night,” he said.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas