Gold Star Mothers Named Grand Marshal Of Memorial Day Parade

CHICAGO, IL - The American Gold Star Mothers will lead the annual Memorial Parade down Longwood Drive this year as the parade's Grand Marshals. The selection was officially announced by the Beverly Area Planning Association this week. Gold Star Mothers are those who have lost a son or daughter in military service.

Among those leading the parade will be Modie Lavin, mother of local hero Marine Cpl. Conner T. Lowry. Lowry was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2012.

Lavin is the family outreach coordinator for the Road Home Program for veterans at Rush University Medical Center, which is the presenting sponsor of the parade.

All area Gold Star Mothers are encouraged to join the group of parade Grand Marshals. For information, call Grace Kuikman at BAPA at 773-233-3100.

BAPA will host a Memorial Day Parade kickoff event on Thursday, April 19 from 7-9 p.m. at Cork and Kerry, 10614 S. Western Ave. Admission for the event is $25 and proceeds will be donated to the restoration of the badly neglected Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers Memorial, which was recently rediscovered in the Dan Ryan Woods.

Photo: Gold Star Mothers, courtesy of BAPA