Rockford Honors Veterans at 85th Annual Dinner

Veterans from every era gathered in Rockford for the event's 85th annual dinner, which traces back to the end of World War I.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Military

Warm late-afternoon light falls across a folded American flag resting on an empty chair beside a banquet table set with white linen and brass. — Rockford held its 85th annual Veterans Dinner Saturday at Embassy Suites, with retired Army Sergeant Dr. John E. Thiel delivering the keynote address. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Rockford held its 85th annual Veterans Dinner on Saturday night at Embassy Suites, bringing together veterans from different generations. Retired U.S. Army staff Sargent Dr. John E. Thiel served as keynote speaker.

Why it matters

The dinner keeps a tradition alive that began as a celebration of the armistice ending World War I, giving veterans of multiple eras a shared setting to be recognized in Rockford.

The 85th annual dinner marks the event's long run, and keynote speaker Thiel served from 1967 to 1971 across two deployments to Vietnam. Attendance figures were not reported.

The players

Dr. John E. Thiel

A retired U.S. Army staff sergeant who served two deployments to Vietnam and was this year's keynote speaker.

Scott Lewandowski

The event coordinator who leads the Rockford Veterans Dinner.

The details

Event coordinator Scott Lewandowski leads the dinner, which drew veterans from all eras to Embassy Suites. Thiel spoke about his deployments and the lessons military service taught him.

- The dinner was held Saturday, November 7, 2026, in Rockford.
- The tradition traces back to 1918, the year of the armistice ending World War I.
- Thiel's military service ran from 1967 to 1971.

Historical Context

The dinner traces to the 1918 armistice ending World War I and continues as an 85th annual observance of that original purpose. Its longevity reflects how local veterans' gatherings have carried the memory of that conflict forward.

Rockford residents can attend future Veterans Dinners to recognize local veterans across generations. The event offers a direct way to honor service members in the community.

The takeaway

Local traditions like the Rockford Veterans Dinner preserve the memory of service across generations, linking a 1918 armistice to veterans who served decades later.