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Friday, March 29, 2024

Naperville Memorial Day Parade is set to honor sacrifices given to protect freedom

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Above / The 2017 Naperville Memorial Day Parade will start at 10:30AM Mon., May 29, 2017.  Organizers of the parade will watch the weather forecast. A decision will be made by 9:30AM if conditions warrant canceling the parade and observances in Naperville for the safety of all participants and grateful spectators. (PN File Photo 2016)

 
Special to PN by Terry Jelinek
 
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Terry Jelinek

Memorial Day in Naperville has been commemorated since 1928 with the decorating of graves, placing of wreaths and a parade.

Over the years, however, I feel that we have forgotten the real purpose of the day. I can understand how this is possible since it is hard to watch a parade and not feel some sense of joy and excitement.

The parade is a part of the tradition and it is very hard to not feel patriotic with the number of American flags that are visible along the parade route, in the parade and throughout town. And although it is nice to honor the veterans participating in the activities and acknowledge our fire and police departments, this is not the true purpose of the day.

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A monument in Central Park is dedicated to soldiers and sailors of the Black Hawk War and the Civil War. Wreaths will be laid here on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day conveys to Americans the price and pain of the quest for freedom. It is a day to honor the dead and what their service and sacrifice meant for America.

The first Memorial Day (Decoration Day) was in 1868. Since then patriotic Americans have not forgotten the dead of the Civil war, nor have they forgotten the sacrifices born by our fighting men and brave women who served in the subsequent wars in defense of freedom.

We no longer place flowers or pine boughs on the grave of each veteran resting in our cemeteries. The veterans from American Legion Post 43 and Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, with the help of Boy Scout Troops 106, 111 and the Naval Sea Cadets of the “Ghostrider Squadron,” decorate each grave with an American flag. This is done on Friday and Saturday before Memorial Day.

First published May, 23, 2015


The Memorial Day Parade

Memorial Day is set aside every year to honor military men, women and families that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedoms. In the United States, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May.

In Naperville, the city’s tradition has been to host an annual Memorial Day Parade.

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 fallen heroes and their families. This year, Terry Jelinek is serving as chairman.

According to an update by Jelinek, the 2017 Parade Marshal will be Frank Haynes, Officer of the Day will be Lou Wegerer (WWII Navy), and Chaplain for the Day will be General Mark Anderson (USAF ret.).

“We will also have the Great Lakes 50-flag unit coming down,” added Jelinek.

Naperville historian and Vietnam Army veteran Steve Hyett returns to provide narration of the parade units and marching bands.

The 2017 parade will step off at 10:30AM on Mon., May 29. And it’s customary to hear applause and witness salutes from spectators who line the streets as they recognize supreme sacrifice and that freedom isn’t free. Crowds also show rousing respect to units of veterans with flags and to marching bands with many musicians, young and old, performing patriotic songs to remind us that peaceful assembly is cherished in our world.

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Above / Members of the American Legion Post 43 and Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 present the Colors during the annual Memorial Day Parade. (PN File Photo)

How it lines up…

For starters, at 10:30AM Mon., May 29, the 2017 Memorial Day Parade officially begins. Parade participants are to lineup near Centennial Beach along Jackson Avenue and West Street. The parade heads east to Washington, north to Benton, and east to the Ss. Peter & Paul parking lot.

flags-flying-veterans-park

Above / Visit Veterans Park across from Grace United Methodist Church any day this spring to pause and reflect about the meaning of Naperville Memorial Day Parade on the last Monday in May. Peace.

Observance with music in Central Park at 12:15PM

Immediately following the conclusion of the colorful red, white and blue parade, an observance with patriotic messages from guest speakers and musical tributes performed by the Naperville Municipal Band again will be held in Central Park at the Community Concert Center.  perform during the 30-minute observance.

Schedule of Veterans Tributes

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Wear a Buddy Poppy to the Memorial Day Parade. Poppies will be available the week prior to Memorial Day from Veterans in front of Casey’s Foods and many local supermarkets. Thanks to all!

Other observances with ceremonial red poppy wreath laying are included on Memorial Day.  Prior to the parade, veterans decorate local cemeteries and veterans’ monuments. During the parade they pause at Veterans Plaza along the Riverwalk and after the parade they recognize fallen soldiers in Central Park.

Memorial Day Schedule May 29, 2017

Note: Morning flag raising services will begin 15 minutes earlier this year. 

7:45 – Flag raising and service at 9/11-Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial – (taps & volley)

8:15 – Service at Veterans Park (Gartner Rd.) – (taps & volley)

8:35 – Service at Burlington Square Park Doughboy Monument – (taps & volley)

9:00 – Service at Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery (taps & volley)

9:45 – Service at GAR Monument in Naperville Cemetery – (taps & volley)

Memorial Day Parade Begins at 10:30AM 

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 at 12:15PM

12:15 – A 30-minute program at the Community Concert Center includes selections by Naperville Municipal Band with an invocation and other speeches.

No late registrations will be accepted. The deadline to register was May 1.

For information, visit www.napervillememorialdayparade.com.

RELATED POSTS & PHOTOS / Naperville Memorial Day Parade 

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