Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony to be Held Monday

Submission by the city of Aurora

The city of Aurora will honor the service men and women who gave their lives for our country during the annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30 at noon in downtown Aurora.

SPECIAL PRE-PARADE CEREMONY

Immediately prior to the parade, a special re-dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. to commemorate the reopening of the historic Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Memorial Hall. This pre-parade event will be held across the street from the GAR Memorial Hall at the parade reviewing stand in front of the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place. The GAR Memorial Hall will be open for public tours following the parade.

A CAPTIVATING PARADE

The 2016 Memorial Day Parade steps off at 12 p.m. from River and Benton streets, heads east to Broadway Avenue, turns north to Downer Place and concludes at River Street.

Leading one of the largest Memorial Day Parades in recent Aurora history will be Grand Marshal Scott Roscoe. The local labor leader, community organizer and member of Aurora Veteran's Advisory Council is a Vietnam veteran.

The parade will also feature local military groups, including Roosevelt Aurora Post #84, Amvets Post #103, Waidley VFW #468, the GAR Commission Post #20, the Fox Valley Marines, the Chicago Highland Rifles; and energetic school marching bands, including East Aurora High School, Scullen Middle School, Waubonsie Valley High School, West Aurora High School; and many other crowd favorites, such as the Lamplighters Chorus, the Phillips Park Zoo Tram, the Aurora Shriners Club, the East Aurora NJROTC, Aurora 88's Roller Derby League, Simply Destinee Dance Team, the always-electrifying South Shore Drill Team, and many many more units.

The best viewing area will be the in front of the Pierce Art and History Center where the reviewing stand will be located.

FREE PARKING

Free parking is available in downtown parking lots and the Stolp Avenue parking deck. The deck can be accessed on Stolp from either Downer Place or Benton Street prior to the start of the ceremony.

The ceremony and parade will be recorded and televised on ACTV throughout the month of June. It will also be archived on the City of Aurora's YouTube channel.