Centralia Mayor Bryan Kuder in coordination with the Centralia Veteran Affairs Committee is proud to announce World War II Veteran and Prisoner of Foreign War Vince Rolves will be the Grand Marshal for this year’s 4th of July Veterans Parade.
The parade starts at 1 p.m. with participants lining up on Chestnut Street in downtown Centralia beginning at Noon. The Parade will end in Fairview Park.
Vince Rolves is one of the last few living WW2 prisoners of war in Illinois. He willingly served his country during a time of great need only one month after turning 18. He served in the U.S. Army’s 45th Infantry Division. On 14 Dec 1943, near Naples, Italy, Rolves and other soldiers from company C, found themselves in battle with German soldiers. Vince was shot in the left ankle. Unable to retreat to safety, he and 14 other American soldiers were captured by the Germans. He spent 18 months in a prison camp and survived. Unfortunately, that in itself is a feat that few accomplished.
Rolves received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Prisoner of War Medal. Vince later worked on the family farm and went on to be a businessman and an employee at Scott Airforce Base for 30 years. He also established a support organization for former POW’s in the area. He shared his experiences with local schools so that students would understand the sacrifices our soldiers have made.
The City of Centralia is proud to acknowledge Vince Rolves and other combatants from Centralia and the surrounding area.
Awards will be presented directly after the parade at the War Memorial by the Veteran’s pavilion in Fairview Park.
Any organization, club, dance team, group, or individual interested in participating in the event may contact Butch Mathus at 618-533-5602, email wamacer@att.net, or obtain an entry form at Centralia City Hall or download it by visiting the City’s website at cityofcentralia.org.
For any questions regarding the City of Centralia Veteran Affairs Committee, please contact Kim Enke, City Clerk at 618.533.7623 or by email at kaenke@cityofcentralia.org.
