UPDATE May 12, 2015 / The Naperville Memorial Day Parade Committee met to finalize the order of 67 patriotic entries in the annual tribute held in downtown Naperville. The day to honor all veterans and all families that have given the ultimate sacrifice begins at 8AM with a series of services from the Riverwalk to Veterans Park and from Burlington Square Park to local cemeteries.
Memorial Day Schedule May 25, 2015
8:00 – Flag raising and service at 9/11-Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial – (taps & volley)
8:30 – Service at Veterans Park (Gartner Rd.) – (taps & volley)
8:50 – Service at Burlington Square Park Doughboy Monument – (taps & volley)
9:15 – Service at St. Peter & Paul Cemetery (taps & volley)
10:00 – Service at GAR Monument in Naperville Cemetery – (taps & volley)
Memorial Day Parade Begins
10:30 – Advance section of parade steps off from Jackson and Ewing. Spectators are asked to line the street east of Ewing in order to enjoy all the band in the parade.
10:40 – Service at Veterans Plaza, corner of Webster & Jackson. Then the Main Parade steps off from Jackson & West St., East to Washington, North to Benton, East to Court Place (Veterans & Military Units), East to St. Peter & Paul parking lot.
Memorial Day Observance in Central Park
12:15 – A 45-minute program at the Community Concert Center includes selections by Naperville Municipal Band with an Invocation by Chaplain Richard Komarack. Musical selections will be performed by the 8th-grade school chorus from Kennedy Junior High School.
The American Legion award-winning oratory, “The Flame of Our Liberty,” will be presented by Rowan Macwan, a junior high school student who is home schooled.
The Naperville Municipal Band also will perform service songs during the service at Blackhawk Monument/Silver Star Memorial.
If it is raining at 9AM, a decision to cancel will be made at that time by Parade committee and Naperville Police Department.
The Memorial Day Parade has been a Naperville tradition for more than 80 years. Let us all thank a veteran on this special day!
Registration to participate in the Memorial Day Parade ended on May 9, 2015. Find all details at http://www.napervillememorialdayparade.com/. Absolutely no late entries.
The parade is organized by members of the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, the American Legion Post 43, NPD, NFD, Naperville Municipal Band and other community volunteers. Emily Binder is in charge of registrations. Terry Jelinek has been running the meetings.
Original Post April 16, 2015 / Naperville’s annual Memorial Day Parade will step off at 10:30AM Mon., May 25. Veterans, bands and veterans’ groups that want to participate can register until May 9.
Organized by a parade committee comprised of members of the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, American Legion Post 43, the Naperville Municipal Band, Naperville Police and Fire Departments and other citizen volunteers, the Naperville tradition attracts tens of thousands to downtown Naperville to pay tribute to every family that has sacrificed for our nation’s freedom.
To accommodate veterans groups, marching bands and other patriotic entries, an updated website has been created by Emily Binder and launched for parade registration with complete instructions, providing parade participants with pertinent information.
Tom Priz again has enlisted vintage vehicles and classic cars with drivers as a way to give many honored veterans a much deserved lift in the parade. Every year the cars are reserved for Gold Star families as well as World War II and Korean War veterans so the appreciative spectators along the parade route can recognize them and pay tribute to them for their service and sacrifices. To arrange a car, contact Terry Jelinek at (630) 357-5366.
The 2015 Memorial Day Parade officially steps off from Jackson and West St., heads east to Washington, north to Benton, and east to Ss. Peter & Paul parking lot. Steve Hyett again will add commentary to the parade for its broadcast on NCTV17.
Memorial Day Observance in Central Park / 12:15PM
Immediately following the conclusion of the colorful parade at 12:15PM, an observance with patriotic messages from guest speakers and musical tributes performed by the Naperville Municipal Band is planned in Central Park at the Community Concert Center.
This year the Kennedy Junior High School Choir under the direction of Thomas Jesse will perform.
The keynote speaker will be home-schooled junior high school student Rowan Macwan who recently placed second in the 2015 American Legion National Oratorical Contest, held in Indianapolis on April 12 and recognized with at $16,000 scholarship. During the Memorial Day ceremony in Central Park, the young man from Naperville will deliver his award-winning oration titled “The Flame of Our Liberty.”
Other observances, including wreath laying at different monuments, are scheduled before and after the parade, too.
Registration runs now through May 9. All registration is via the website. No late registration will be accepted.
Keep in mind, unlike the Labor Day Parade when local businesses and organizations participate to celebrate events, hand out promotions and toss candy, the Memorial Day is set aside to applaud veterans and their families for their service. American flags often are distributed along the parade route. Thanks for waving! Cheers.
For registration and more information, visit www.napervillememorialdayparade.com.
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