Annual VetsRoll victory parade
coming from a military family, brothers John and Mark Finnegan’s desire to recognize Veterans Lands close to home
Summer is filled with military connections, from Memorial Day to July 4th, and to start the annual memorials and celebrations, another military parade takes place, this time spanning days, and multiple states.
As a way to honor their parents, Cy and Barbara Finnegan, and the legacy their generation left within the nation and history, John and Mark Finnegan founded VetsRolls. Each year, since the inaugural trip, Veterans and support staff are taken to Washington D.C., to view memorials built in their honor.
For John and Mark, the service of the Veterans they now support, is reminiscent of their own parents. Cy served in WWII as a Machinist Mate in the U.S. Navy. in the South Pacific Philippine Theater, while his wife, Barbara, worked as an Army Signal Corps civilian office employee as a de-coder for the War Department in Arlington, VA., before becoming a wiring cable lacer at Jorgensen Engineering in Beloit until the end of the war.
CLOSURE – GRATITUDE – RESPECT
VetsRoll’s inaugural trip to Washington D.C., took place May 17-20, 2010, taking over 125 WWII Vets and Rosie-the-Riveters, in a caravan of nine motorhomes, three charter buses and a support van. The following year attendance swelled to 200 Veterans from WWII, the Korea War, and also Rosies. With each trip, a support team comprised of volunteers and medical personnel, totaling over 100 support personnel.
One goal of the trip is to provide closure, gratitude and respect.
VetsRoll covers all cost for the Veterans roundtrip from Beloit to D.C., and can do so by donations given generously year-round to support the organization. For more information on the program, or to volunteer, or sign-up visit VetsRoll.
How you can welcome our vets back home
You have a chance to help honor our Veterans as they return home from D.C., giving a welcome many never received when they returned home the first time. Please see below for the map detailing the parade route, directions and approximate timing.
Sweet welcome home signs, red, white, and blue clothing and glow sticks, or, at special request, 1940s style clothing is highly encouraged for the parade.
Welcome home victory parade
