Above / Veterans Plaza along the Riverwalk is located just east of the Civic Plaza along Jackson Avenue. At 10:40AM Mon., May 27, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place here during the Memorial Day Parade to honor America’s fallen soldiers and sailors.
Shortly after the Memorial Day Parade steps off at 10:30AM Mon., May 27, the Color Guards from the American Legion Post 43 and the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 will pause for a brief service at the Veterans Memorial, just east of the Civic Plaza with the Dandelion Fountain, located along Jackson Ave. near Webster St.
Every year, the parade traditionally stops at Veterans Memorial along the Riverwalk to lay wreaths for America’s fallen soldiers and sailors.
For 2019, VFW Post 3873 Trustee Bob Bronson is serving as emcee for Naperville’s ceremonies on Memorial Day beginning at 7:45AM with flag-raising services at the Dan Shanower Sept. 11 Memorial and ending at 12:15PM with the special observance in Central Park.
During the stop at the Veterans Memorial soon after the parade begins, Bronson will read a tribute in honor of Terry Jelinek.
“Today we want to take a few minutes to honor Terry Jelinek for his leadership as our Naperville Memorial Day Parade Committee Chairman for many years. His role as chairman has been the key the the success that this event has been to ‘Honoring our Fallen Men and Women that have served our Country.’
“Terry served in the United States Navy in the Vietnam War and was also a Retired District Chief for the City of Naperville Fire Department. Unfortunately, Terry passed away last December and will be missed, but not forgotten.
“In recognition, we will now have our Naperville Municipal Band play the ‘Navy Hymn’ as we place a wreath at our Soldiers Memorial and a wreath in the DuPage River to honor our ‘Fallen at Sea’.”
Original Post, May 19, 2013 / Reposted May 21, 2019 / Editor’s Note: Thanks for being especially thoughtful on Memorial Day about our country’s precious freedom and all the fallen heroes, men and women, who have given the supreme sacrifice to protect it. The Memorial Day Parade will begin along Jackson Ave. at 10:30AM. A special 30-minute observance with musical tributes, brief speeches and a wreath laying also takes place at 12:15PM in Central Park. God bless America, members who serve in the five branches of the armed services and the Gold Star Families.
Special Commentary to PN
By Terrance Jelinek / Commander of the American Legion Post 43 & Past Commander of the Judd Kendall VFW 3873
Memorial Day observed on the fourth Monday in May and Veterans Day always on November 11 are two very important days in the hearts of veterans for two entirely different reasons.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day, the more somber of the two days, is a day that should convey to all Americans the price and pain of the quest for our nation’s freedom. It is a day in which we remember the dead for their service and sacrifice. It doesn’t matter if those who we remember this day died on the battlefield. What is important is that all those who have died have been a part of America’s past and that each one in his or her own way contributed to our American heritage. We recognize that their contributions helped ensure our freedoms.
In America, we have been honoring the dead on Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day) since the end of the Civil War.
General John A. Logan was the commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, the organization of Union Veterans. He issued the following order in response to a request made by Adjutant General Norton P. Chipman:
“The thirtieth day of May, 1868 was designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this order and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.
Department commanders will use every effort to make this order effective.”
We feel that this order is fitting and proper and are proud to be part of a community/town which continues to mark this observance every year.
The picture of a grave site with a wreath or a flag shows the solemnity of the day. But the veterans who have gone before us want us to celebrate the freedoms that they have helped preserve.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day, is celebrated every November 11 to mark the signing of the Peace Treaty of the “War that would end all wars,” World War I. The Armistice was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 1918, proving to be a very happy occasion. The world was once again at peace and millions of soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen from all countries were returning home to their families and loved ones.
Unfortunately, it was not the war to end all wars. So in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Veterans Day is a day in which we thank all veterans for their service. If you were to think of it as a picture, the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square at the end of WWII is a great image.
—Terrance Jelinek
Memorial Day 2019 is May 27
Memorial Day 2019 will be observed on Mon., May 27.
For more than 90 years, observances at local cemeteries with ceremonial red poppy wreath laying are included to commemorate Memorial Day in Naperville. 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 Flag-raising Schedule
Note: Morning flag raising services will begin 15 minutes earlier again this year.
7:45AM – Flag raising and service at 9/11-Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial – (taps & volley) Behind the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St., along the Riverwalk at Webster St.
8:15AM – Service at Veterans Park (Gartner Rd.) – (taps & volley) 303 E. Gartner Road.
8:35AM – Service at Burlington Square Park Doughboy Monument – (taps & volley) Just south of the train station / North Ave.
9AM – Service at St. Peter & Paul Cemetery (taps & volley) 911 North Ave.
9:45AM – Service at GAR Monument in Naperville Cemetery – (taps & volley) 705 S. Washington St. near Hillside Ave.
Memorial Day Parade Begins at 10:30AM
10:30AM – 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 bands in the parade.
10:40AM – 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 Ss. Peter & Paul parking lot.
Memorial Day Observance in Central Park
At the end of the parade, a 30-minute observance with music performed by the Naperville Municipal Band and two songs by the Young Naperville Singers will begin at 12:15PM. In addition, the ceremony will include patriotic tributes, a speech by American Legion State Oratorical 2nd Place Recipient Regan Macwan, and a wreath laying at the Blackhawk War Memorial in Central Park.
Editor’s Note / Since Dec. 23, 2018, when the sad news that Terrance “Terry” Jelinek, age 70, had died peacefully that morning after meeting many challenges during recent health issues, parade meetings have been filled with reminders of the lessons learned from the Navy veteran and leader of many Memorial Day Parades in downtown Naperville and Veterans Day Observances in Veterans Park.
For more than 15 years, the lifelong Naperville resident and his kind heart inspired stories and photos featured in Positively Naperville. A search of “Jelinek” on this website (launched in 2012) will show stories and photos saved in PN’s archive. For the past year, Terry’s wife, Sue Jelinek, has been a monthly PN columnist, sharing insights and experiences as a Navy mother.
