Elmhurst Plans Memorial Day Convoy

ELMHURST, IL — With the pandemic, many towns have canceled their Memorial Day parades. Not Elmhurst. It had a tradition to keep — one that has lasted 102 years.

But the parade will be a different animal this year, with social distancing protocols being obeyed. It will be called the "2020 Always Remember Memorial Day Convoy." The convoy of vehicles is set to include first responders and preselected special service and military vehicles, according to a city news release. It is expected to last from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Memorial Day.

The convoy's route will cover 16 miles of Elmhurst with vehicles passing through all seven of the city's wards. It will start and end at the Elmhurst American Legion, 310 W. Butterfield Road.

The convoy is within a quarter-mile walk from almost any home in Elmhurst and will go by many open public parking spots, according to the city news release.

The city's website lists ways that the public can take part in the parade safely:

• Show your support by decorating the front of your home, which could include posting a flag and adding a ribbon to a parkway tree. Ribbons will be provided by the American Legion for a donation of $1, $5, $10, $20, $20, $50 or $100. Ribbons can be ordered online through the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce. Residents can also pick up ribbons from the American Legion post via a drive-thru table open weekdays from noon to 1 p.m. until Friday, May 22.
• If your home is on the route, consider parking your car at the end of your driveway and decorating it. You can turn your flashers on and wave as the convoy goes by.
• Listen to patriotic music while watching the convoy by tuning into Elmhurst College radio station WRSE on 88.7 FM or stream the station online.
• At 5 p.m. on Memorial Day, a prerecorded ceremony along with footage from the convoy will be available to watch on Elmhurst TV’s YouTube page. This will also be available to watch on Comcast and AT&T Uverse at a later time.