Nonprofit Veterans Drop-In Center in Rockford temporarily closes to restructure staffing
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A nonprofit that provides local veterans a place to meet with their peers and share a meal has temporarily closed following the departure of its executive director.
The Veterans Drop-In Center, 1539 S. Fourth St., posted the notice of the closure on its door and on Facebook. The group said on Facebook that its executive director, Sean West, recently stepped down, and it will undergo staffing changes to restructure its operations. Attempts to reach the organization by phone and email were not successful.
"This short pause will allow us to strengthen our foundation, improve services, and ensure we are best equipped to serve our local veterans moving forward," the group wrote on Facebook. "We deeply value the trust you place in us and remain committed to our mission of supporting those who have served. Please know this is not goodbye—it’s a step toward building an even stronger future for our center and the community we serve."
A timeline for reopening has not been set. The group said it will post updates on Facebook as it completes the transition.
The Veterans Drop-In Center was formed in 2009 with a mission to provide a supportive social environment to all veterans and their families, and to offer continuing support as they adapt to post-service life.
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
Rockford nonprofit gifts veteran new home after 2-year transformation of dilapidated property
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A nonprofit that works to prevent suicide and uplift at-risk communities has turned over the keys of a new home to a local veteran, culminating two years of work to revitalize a ramshackle property on the city's west side.
Marshmallow’s Hope and Army veteran Brad Scoville, 57, cut the ribbon Monday on the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house off West State Street and Lakin Terrace. Scoville was selected a year ago from a multitude of veterans in need of a "forever home," said Laura Kane, founder of Marshmallow’s Hope.
"Not only is it great for me but it's also good for the city because this was an eyesore," Scoville said as he walked through the completed home for the first time. "It's hard not to get choked up. My brain's already working on where this is going to go and where that's going to go. It's over the top. It's a lot, very emotional."
The property was abandoned and left in ruins in 2023, when it was given to Marshmallow's Hope through the Winnebago County trustee program. The trustee had taken ownership after years of delinquent taxes.
"Turning an otherwise abandoned property into a home for a deserving veteran is an innovative idea, and as a trustee for Winnebago County I couldn't be happier to see one of these properties go to such a great cause," Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli said.
The rebuild proved even more difficult than expected, with rotten wood and termites that forced an entire rebuild of the floor.
Kane said they were only able to complete the work thanks to a multitude of businesses that stepped up to donate labor and supplies. Among them were Superior Roofing, Randy Palmeri & Son, Danny's Roofing Xteriors (DRX Construction), Rockford Heating & Air Conditioning and Lonnie's Carpetmax, to name a few of more than two dozen contributors.
"The fact that she could get all these people together to work on a project and all that positive energy," said Scoville, who served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield. "Obviously, I got the house, but even if I didn't I would still think this is a great idea because of all the good feeling out there and all the positive energy."
The project was taken on to honor the memory of Zachary Birkholz and Caden Fritz, two young people who died by suicide. Birkholz is the son of Kane, who started Marshmallow's Hope to help other youth in need of mental health services. Fritz is the grandson of Rick Fritz, the owner of Fritz ElectRick, which did all the electric work in the home.
“This home is a promise fulfilled,” Kane said. “In memory of Zachary and Caden, and in service to those who have served us, we are proud to give a veteran more than just four walls—we are giving hope, a future, and the knowledge that they are never alone.”
Initially, Marshmallow's Hope had aspired to complete one home rebuild for a veteran each year. The difficulty of this project proved that won't be possible, Kane said.
"Unfortunately the financial aspect is too difficult," Kane said. "If I had the means, I would absolutely do it once a year."
Scoville, who was renting a room from a friend in Loves Park before receiving the home, said he lost a friend to suicide three months ago and believe's the work of Marshmallow's Hope is needed in our community.
Kane sees the home itself as a metaphor for what's possible in people and communities because it took something that was once broken and rebuilt it into an asset.
"While it took longer than we expected - over two years - what was once broken is now whole," Kane said. "What was once abandoned is now a beacon of hope."
Service Awards
Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli presented service awards to people and organizations that contributed to the veteran house project. They are:
- Home Depot
- 84 Lumber
- Wolfpack Motorcycle Club
- Murphy's Pub & Grill
- Rockford Heating & Air Conditioning
- Fritz ElectRick
- Greg Lindmark Foundation
- J&G Landscaping
- DIA Construction
- Randy Palmeri & Son
- Superior Roofing
- JC Remodeling and Construction
- Ryan Scudder
- Dusting Tongue
- Sherwin Williams
- Les' Cleaning Services
- Jam's Disposal
- Rock River Disposal
- Fire Department Coffee
- Danny's Roofing Xteriors
- Fitzgerald Equipment
- Basement Productions
- Fast Signs
- Metro Insulation
- Lonnie's Carpetmax
- The RDM Foundation
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
Historic gathering honors aging World War II veterans, Rosie the Riveters in Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A historic gathering on the 83rd anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor brought together dozens of World War II veterans, "Rosie the Riveters" and wartime nurses — all age 97 or older — to honor them for their service.
The nonprofit Vets Roll Inc. partnered with Hard Rock Casino Rockford to bring the group together to be recognized for their service and sacrifice during World War II.
"It's unbelievable that there are so many people who care about what I did," Army veteran Jimmy Castellano said of the ceremony inside Hard Rock Live, which included speeches from local dignitaries such as County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli, Mayor Tom McNamara, U.S. Air Force Major General John Borling and cast members of the acclaimed 2001 HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers."
Castellano, who joined the Army fresh out of high school at age 18, served from 1943-45 with the 430th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. He then spent 37 years as a police officer. Now living in Belvidere, Castellano, who turns 100 on Jan. 17, attended with his wife of 77 years, Louise.
"I'm proud of what I did and I would do it again. The military was good to me and I was good to the military," he said. "I only hope that future generations realize what a wonderful country this is.
"I've been around almost 100 years and you'll never find a better place to live than the United States of America."
The veterans came from the Rockford region as well as Wisconsin and Indiana. They were connected through Vets Roll with the help of Assisting Hands Home Care, Honor Flight Chicago and Old Glory Honor Flight.
"This event will be remembered in Rockford for years to come as a historic event for Rockford, Illinois," said Carl Nuccio, a volunteer with Vets Roll, which helps organize trips to Washington, D.C. for veterans to visit memorials for a chance to reflect and gain closure.
Nuccio said the event was the chance to recognize American heroes like his friend Gene Kleindl, a 102-year-old veteran who served as a medic in the 358th Infantry Regiment.
Kleindl, who landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on June 8, 1944, was injured during the war.
"He fought Utah Beach, all the way through Normandy, liberated Flossenburg Jewish concentration camp, as a medic took care of the sick in the concentration camp — all before his 22nd birthday," Nuccio said. "That's just one example of 16 million examples you could give of why we need to remember these individuals."
Vets Roll, which was started in February 2010 by the owners of Finnegan's RV Center, makes it its mission to provide closure, gratitude and respect to veterans.
“This gathering is more than a remembrance, it’s a celebration of their unparalleled contributions to history,” Mark Finnegan, the president of Vets Roll, said in a statement.
The organization is best known for its annual trips to Washington, D.C., to allow veterans to visit war memorials. Castellano went on one of those trips about a decade ago.
"When I visited the memorials in Washington, D.C., the numbers were staggering," he said. "It was unbelievable, humbling."
Roald Zvonik, a 98-year-old Navy veteran from Moline, joined the service at age 17 and served from 1944 to 1946. He earned six medals, which he was delayed in receiving until this past August.
Zvonik later worked for the Army as a civilian with deployments in Germany and Vietnam.
"They missed more four more times as a civilian," he said of surviving World War II and his civilian deployments.
Zvonik was asked to reflect on seeing so many veterans gathered in one place.
"It's great but I wish there was more of them alive," he said. "It means a lot to me because, at least, we're being recognized and we have a great country."
Three actors from "Band of Brothers" — Doug Spain, Rene Moreno and Peter Youngblood Hills — shared their appreciation for the opportunity to depict the history of "Easy" Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.
The ceremony was largely a chance to celebrate and thank the men and women who served or gave back as civilians during World War II. It was also a reflection on the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Habor.
The attack happened in the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, killing roughly 2,400 people and drawing the United States into World War II.
"I don't think America knows what these men went through to win World War II," Nuccio said. "We really need to pass this on to the next generation because in another few years we're not going to have any of these men and women left, and it's really important that we never forget their sacrifices."
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
Ambitious development aims to build 200-plus affordable living units for veterans in Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — An ambitious new initiative sets out to create quality affordable housing for veterans ranging from studio apartments to single-family homes at nine sites spread throughout Rockford and Cherry Valley.
Rockford Resurgence Housing Developments is a nonprofit development group led by Abdul Ahed and Mustafa Abdall that plans to create nearly 240 subsidized living units including two-bedroom townhomes and duplexes, single-family homes and studio apartments. Each site would also have either a community center or other dedicated space to help veterans access needed services.
"We want to offer them real housing," said Abdall, vice president of Rockford Resurgence. "They deserve, when they come back from the service, their own backyard, garage, two bedrooms and living room."
Related: District 815 plans to break ground on multiphase development in early 2025
The six locations in Rockford and three spots in Cherry Valley are all vacant land with the exception of the former Illinois Bank & Trust building at 4048 E. State St., which would be converted into a two-story apartment complex with a dozen living units. That change would require City Council approval.
The nonprofit is hosting a public meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at Veterans Memorial Hall, 211 N. Main St., to detail its plans as it prepares to move the project forward.
6 Rockford sites
Here's a breakdown of the six Rockford sites for veterans housing. There are also three sites in the works in Cherry Valley — two on Bell School Road and one on South Bell Valley Road — with six retail buildings, 22 duplexes and 24 townhomes.
| Where | Building type | No. of buildings | Living units |
| 5900 block Wildflower Bend | Duplex | 24 | 48 |
| 1100 S. Mulford Road | Duplex, community center | 19 | 36 |
| 900 block of Phelps Avenue | One family, community center | 20 | 19 |
| 4340 Maray Drive | Two-story apartment | 1 | 12 |
| 2550 W. Riverside Blvd. | Two-story apartment | 1 | 20 |
| 4048 E. State St. | Two-story apartment | 1 | 12 |
| Total | 66 | 147 |
Ahed, the development group's CEO and founder, said the project's goal go beyond housing. It also aims to foster an environment with supportive services, including mental health assistance, for the veterans who live there.
Those mental health services are key to addressing issues that lead to veterans being homeless, said Sean West, executive director of the Veterans Drop-In Center, a nonprofit that helps veterans access support services and transition into civilian life.
"Studies show that homelessness is a direct result of traumatic experiences," West said. "Due to traumatic experiences, people look for ways to cope, which leads to bad habits. Those things are tied hand-in-hand."
West said this approach to veterans housing "changes the narrative of how we view homelessness" because it looks at providing support for for the underlying causes rather than assigning blame to homeless people.
"Most vets join right out of high school, 18 years old, not necessarily knowing what they're getting into or the potential mental health issues you get from experiencing trauma in the military whether that's war or something to do with your peers in the military," West said.
The Veterans Drop-In Center would work with the developers to provide on-site support services at the nine locations. It would also help veterans access the housing, which would be subsidized through Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers.
Ahed and Abdall "are allowing us to distribute our services not to one big site downtown, but to nine separate sites around the community, where those spaces won't cost anyone anything," said Eric Willard of the Veterans Drop-in Center. "It's wonderful to have these free, distributed spaces to focus on veterans."
Willard said if the project moves forward they would seek grant or donations to help fund the operations.
Ahed and Abdall are also behind the for-profit development venture District 815, which could bring 220 residences, a grocery store, restaurants and other businesses to land behind Forest Plaza. That project earned City Council approval this week.
They said they both have family members in the military, which inspired them to take on this project for veterans.
"People who fight for our democracy, fight to save this country and make it a safe country, we need to pay them back, they deserve to be paid back," Abdall said.
Pending approval, Rockford Resurgence hopes it can begin its work in May.
"These are all new builds, and they're going to be very nice and quality and make veterans feel like valuable citizens," Willard said. "From a macro perspective, people will finally have nice places to live in that they earned through their time in the service."
Learn more | Rockford Resurgence
What: Rockford Resurgence Housing Development will hold an informational meeting to provide details on its plans to create affordable long-term housing options for veterans and their families.
When: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21
Where: Veterans Memorial Hall, 211 N. Main St., Rockford
Online info: ProjectRRHD.com
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
Navy veteran who gives back to others gifted with home makeover from Window World of Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A Rockford woman who served in the Navy for more than 20 years and then worked to aid her fellow veterans here was honored Friday with a home makeover from Window World of Rockford.
La Verne Moss will have her home on the southwest side wrapped with new insulated siding and get new energy efficient windows.
"It's going to make it look beautiful, it's going to be maintenance free and it's going to save her money on a monthly basis," said Scott Williamson, president and CEO of Window World of Rockford. "We're going to give back to her since she's been giving to the Rockford community for decades."
Related: Veterans invited to register for free Veterans Day breakfast at Hard Rock Casino Rockford
Williamson, a Marine veteran who served in the Gulf War, wanted to do something to respect and honor other men and women who served. His company got roughly 400 applications to be chosen for the Veteran's Energy Saving Home Transformation.
"Reading through that was tough. There were some pretty heartbreaking stories," he said. "Every single one of them was very deserving."
Williamson said they wanted to select a recipient who has given back to the community. Moss, a 76-year-old Navy veteran, was a fitting choice.
She volunteers at the Veteran's Drop-In Center, 1539 S. Fourth St., where she feeds meals to the homeless, participates in coat and clothing drives, and helps get veterans to their doctor's appointments. Over the years she's also helped veterans learn how to get their proper benefits and she's sent hundreds of boxes of Girl Scout cookies to military members serving over seas, paying from her own pocket.
"She has dedicated her life in the Rockford area to giving back to local vets," Williamson said. "La Verne is a hero and a blessing to the Rockford community and the veterans around here."
Moss served two stints with the Navy totally 22.5 years. First, she was among the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) during the Vietnam War. Then, she returned to the Navy 18 years later and served until 2010.
Her father is a Navy veteran who served during World War II. Her mom worked in the shipyard as a Rosie the Riveter, a name given to women who stepped into traditionally male roles during the war.
Moss bought her parents' home in Rockford in 1978, and she returned to live with them when her father became ill and her parents needed her help.
She said after her time in the military she started learning about how many of her fellow veterans weren't aware of the benefits they were owed. She helped point them in the right direction, and she felt called to help in other ways she could.
"I just do what I have to do," she said. "They're my battle buddies and they need help."
Williamson said they will now begin working with Moss on selecting the siding and preparing to start the work. This was the first year Window World of Rockford offered the program, and he said they hope to be able to do it again in the future. The locally owned and operated company has been in business since May 2005.
"We're pretty blessed to be in a position to do this and we hope to keep doing it," he said. "As long as we can afford to do it we want to continue to do it."
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
Veterans invited to register for free breakfast at Hard Rock Casino Rockford
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Local veterans can be treated to a free breakfast on Veterans Day at Hard Rock Casino Rockford through an event hosted by state Rep. Dave Vella.
The Democratic lawmaker is hosting the special breakfast from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday at the casino, 7801 E. State St. Register is required. You can register HERE.
Related: Veterans parking only spots opened in downtown Rockford
Vella said the event is designed to be a heartfelt gathering featuring a lineup of inspirational veteran speakers who will share their insights.
“This breakfast is just a small gesture of appreciation to all our local veterans who bravely fought for our country," Vella said in a news release. "I want to ensure they feel respected and valued for their sacrifice."
If you need assistance in registering for the breakfast, call Vella's office at 815-329-6741.
Veterans parking only spots installed in downtown Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city has installed signs to reserve two downtown parking spots for military veterans.
The veteran parking only spots were opened Wednesday in the municipal parking lot next to Veterans Memorial Hall, 211 N. Main St., and across from the Rockford Public Library, 215 N. Wyman St.
“It’s just a small way for us to say thank you to the veterans in our community,” Mayor Tom McNamara said in a statement. “This is something seemingly little, but I hope it serves as a testament of our appreciation and commitment to honor and support our veterans.”
The signs, which read veteran parking only — thank you for your service, were installed this week ahead of Veterans Day on Monday.
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
Changes coming to Auburn and Main streets roundabout in effort to reduce crashes
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city is preparing to make changes to the Auburn and Main streets roundabout in an effort to reduce the number of crashes at the circular intersection.
The city plans to re-stripe the two-lane intersection during the first week of June so that only one lane of traffic will flow through the roundabout, which was dedicated as Veterans Memorial Circle when it was rebuilt from a signal-controlled intersection more than a decade ago. The shift to one lane will happen about 500 feet before the intersection from each approach. The city considers it a pilot program to test if the changes successfully reduce crashes.
More transportation: Comprehensive Whitman and School streets rebuild includes multiuse paths, roundabout
"The only roundabout in the entire United States that has been dedicated as a veterans memorial happens to be the area where more accidents happen than anywhere in Winnebago County — and that's just tragic," said Ernie Redfern, an Army veteran and co-chairperson of the Friends of Veterans Memorial Circle, the neighborhood group organized six years ago to beautify and landscape the circle beyond what city crews could provide.
"I'm hoping it makes this area safer and will reduce the accident rate in a way that truly reflects our efforts to try to make this a fitting tribute to Winnebago County veterans," Redfern said.
The roundabout opened in late October 2013 after a $10 million construction project funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the Main Street portion of the intersection.
The city's idea to re-stripe the intersection comes from something traffic engineers noticed about those early days at the roundabout. It was open for three months as a one-lane roundabout while the finishing touches were made on the project before fully opening as two lanes.
"During that three months, there were zero accidents," said Jeremy Carter, the city's traffic engineer. "We got our first accident the day it opened as a two-lane roundabout."
Now, it's the most crash-prone intersection in Rockford.
"Most years, Main and Auburn has the most accidents of any intersection in the city," Carter said. "With that said, the vast, overwhelming majority of the accidents there are little fender-benders.
"They're property-damage accidents. The intersection has very few injury accidents because people are going at a low speed inside of it, and that's what roundabouts are designed to do."
The decorative brick wall around the flag at the center of the roundabout has been damaged multiple times by drivers who careen right into the center of the roundabout. Carter said the majority of those crashes were due to distracted driving or intoxicated drivers. However, he said the common crashes that happen at the intersection are often because of driver error and improper lane usage, which he hopes re-striping will fix.
"It's hard to have improper lane usage when there's only one lane," Carter said. "We're hoping this pilot program will reduce the accidents."
To configure and get approval for the change, the city worked with IDOT, which has partial jurisdiction in the area because North Main Street is Illinois Route 2
"Initially there will be barricades up and arrowboards up — similar to when it was under construction — to get drivers used to the traffic pattern change," Carter said. "As the pilot program moves along, if it's successful, we hope to start removing arrow boards and barricades and just have the drivers work under the change in striping."
Few people, if anyone, spend more time at the roundabout than Ernie Redfern and Helen Karakoudas Redfern, who as co-chairs of the nonprofit committee that beautifies Veterans Memorial Circle lead maintenance of the thousands of flowers their volunteers plant. (Karakoudas Redfern is also a freelance journalist who on occasion writes for the Rock River Current.)
The city dedicated the intersection as Veterans Memorial Circle in honor of the more than 500 Civil War veterans buried nearby at Greenwood Cemetery. Within a year, plaques were installed beside a monument wall at each quadrant of the roundabout to tell the area’s military history.
For the past two years, the Friends group has put a concerted effort into educating motorists about roundabout rules and encouraging motorists to slow down.
"Right now, we are really in fear when we cross the public streets in a crosswalk because people do not stop," Ernie Redfern said.
This Saturday, the group hosts its annual planting day, when dozens of volunteers plant thousands of flowers to beautify the circle and its approaches as a way of honoring local veterans and military families.
A year ago, as the Redferns staged their event on the Friday before planting day, they witnessed five crashes in the course of about nine hours.
Ernie Redfern said he's happy to see the city institute changes at the roundabout, but he would've preferred more police enforcement to correct drivers' bad habits.
"We spent all this money to make a multi-lane roundabout that we're about to just reduce to one lane," he said. "I like that for the safety factor, but I hate it for the fact that we're surrendering."
Carter said the reduction to one lane will result in some longer wait times to move through the intersection, but he doesn't expect it to take as long as it did during the years Main and Auburn streets was controlled by a traffic signal.
"It will be nowhere near that sort of delay," he said. "With a reduction in lanes, during certain times of the day, you may have to wait at the intersection a little bit longer.There may be a little bit more of a queue, a little bit more of a backup from the intersection."
Carter said that if there is an increase in crashes after the change, or a substantial increase in delays at the intersection, the city will consider changing it back to two lanes.
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
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