Seasonal & Holidays
Race, Parade, Hot Dog Breakfast To Mark Memorial Day in Deerfield
Second year for Essence of Freedom race expected to generate double the crowd.
A race to honor current and former members of the military will precede the annual American Legion parade in Deerfield for the second year in a row on Memorial Day, May 26.
The Essence of Freedom race will kickoff at 7:45 a.m. The local American Legion will lead the annual parade at 10 a.m. from the Jewett Park War Memorial to the Deerfield Cemetery, according to the Deerfield Review.
Race organizer Marilee Papale started the run last year.
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“We need to say thank you for the freedom we have,” she said. “We’re free to live here and start a business. We have to say thank you to the people who take their lives in their hands so we can.”
Also on Patch: Catholic Cemeteries Plan Memorial Day Field Masses
Find out what's happening in Deerfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A hot dog breakfast will begin at 8:15 a.m. and continue after the race.
More than 500 took part in the race last year and Papale is expecting to have more than 1,000 turn out this year for the race, breakfast, music and children’s activities. The money raised will support Operation Homefront and Support our Soldiers, organizations that help members of the military.
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