Janesville Patriotic Society planning Memorial Day ceremonies without parade

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COVID-19 won’t completely cancel Memorial Day in Janesville.

Tom Stehura from the Janesville Patriotic Society said the annual parade is cancelled, but his group will still be putting up flags on the city streets.

“Putting those flags up every year says that Janesville is out here and working to get through this thing and make everybody feel good,” Stehura said.

The Janesville 99 Tank Company also won’t be holding its usual public ceremony, but spokesman Steve Knox indicated they’re working on alternative plans.

The patriotic society plans to do private rifle salutes and taps in Oak Hill Cemetery’s veteran section and at Traxler Park’s Veterans Memorial Plaza.

Stehura said they’re working with JATV local television to potentially record the private ceremony and re-broadcast it for the public.

“We want to help raise the morale of the city,” Stehura said. “We want to let the people know that we’re still here. We’re still functioning. We’re still a city. We’re still American citizens.”

They won’t be placing small flags on the graves of every veteran at the cemetery as they normally do, but private citizens may still do so.

Stehura is also encouraging residents to put up flags on their homes in a show of solidarity, similar to how he saw the community respond after 9/11.