MEMBER PROFILE - March 2023

Veterans Memorial Hall

Rockford’s significant contribution to the Union Army during the Civil War is widely known. In April of 1861, a meeting was held at the Winnebago County Courthouse in which $10,000 was raised from business leaders in support of a 100man military unit known as the Rockford Zouaves. By September of that same year, 13 local military companies had been established. Winnebago County had a population of 8,700 at the time and sent more than 3,000 men to fight with the Union Army.

Almost as soon as the war ended, veterans of the Civil War began talking about a proper memorial. The project would take almost 40 years to complete.

On June 3, 1903, Veterans Memorial Hall was opened and dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt. Announcing the opening of this new asset to Rockford’s busy and growing downtown, Roosevelt admired the new landmark as a beautiful building because of what it was built to do—tell the story of area veterans.

Today, artifacts are carefully labeled and archived on display in the public museum space. Plaques on the wall recognize local service men and women who served their country and those who lost their lives protecting the Union.

“Only three memorial halls like ours have survived in Illinois. Ours is the biggest, grandest and most used,” said Scott Lewandowski, museum director at Veterans Memorial Hall. Lewandowski, who has a background in property management, started working with Veterans Memorial Hall as a volunteer. He’s done everything from building maintenance to operating the audio for events in the 295-seat auditorium.

“I’m proud of the work that we’ve put into protecting this landmark and telling the stories of the people this place was built to memorialize,” Lewandowski said.

Indeed, Veterans Memorial Hall has programs that range from small gatherings for special occasions to longstanding veteran support groups that call the hall their home.

For example, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), predecessor to the American Legion and Veteran of Foreign Wars organizations, was formed in the wake of the Civil War, and GAR Post #1 made its home at Veterans Memorial Hall. Since then, the hall has hosted annual events on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, as well as groups such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Montford Point Marines, a group of African-American Marines who formed a local chapter after participating in the hall’s Black History Month programs alongside surviving Tuskegee Airmen.

Rockford has played a significant role in the foundation of groups designed for veterans, ranging from Navy Club #1 to VietNow. The Rockford American Legion, post 60, dates back to 1919.

Today, this stately landmark remains a constant reminder of those who have protected and served our country for 120 years.

To Lewandowski, it’s a living monument to history: “History doesn’t have to be stale or old. It can be genuinely exciting. For me, it’s never boring.”

Veterans Memorial Hall is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with after-hours tours available by reservation. Auditorium rental is also available by reservation.