Aurora To Honor Veterans With Virtual Memorial Day Ceremony

AURORA, IL — Most years, Aurora’s annual Memorial Day parade draws thousands downtown to pay tribute to those who have died in service to their country. But with all public events called off due to the coronavirus pandemic, local elected officials and veterans organizations are set to host a special online ceremony Monday morning.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin will join U.S. Rep. Bill Foster and State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit for the event, which starts at 10 a.m on the city’s Facebook page and website, according to a news release. Irvin is a U.S. Army veteran and Kifowit is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and serves as the president of the local chapter of the Illinois Women Marines Association, the release states.

The ceremony will include a tribute to Aurora’s Gold Star Families — families of those who died in the line of battle — and a speech by Master Sgt. Anthony Vaughan, who serves as assistant director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, the release states. The ceremony is also set to feature performances by Aurora high school alumni Melissa Bonilla and Mark Murphy, as well as poetry by Karen Christensen, the city’s poet laureate.

“Although we must be physically apart, I look forward to our city coming together to honor those who gave their lives for the very freedom we hold so dear,” Irvin said. “As we pay respect to our fearless fallen heroes and heroines, we are reminded that even during these trying times, we still have so many reasons to be grateful.”