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Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville's Memorial Day observances, parade to be held Monday
Naperville veteran organizations have planned a parade and several observances for Memorial Day to honor fallen veterans and educate the community on their sacrifices. 'The number one objective that I wish to accomplish is essentially to recognize our fallen heroes and with it to show our community, there is a sense of patriotism … regardless of what brought you to Naperville,' said Leo Jaime, chairman of the 2025 Naperville Memorial Day Committee. Jaime, past commander of Naperville's Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, said educating today's youth on veterans' sacrifices and those of their families is another of the Memorial Day Committee's objectives. 'It's a very solemn day that needs to be … recognized as such,' he said. Memorial Day will start off with the laying of wreaths and observances at 7:45 a.m. at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial near the Naperville Municipal Center at 400 S. Eagle St., followed by a service at 8:15 a.m. at the G.A.R. Monument in Naperville Cemetery, 705 S. Washington St. There also will be services at 8:35 a.m. at Veterans Park, 100 E. Gartner Road; 9 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, 911 North Ave.; and 9:25 a.m. at Burlington Square, 307 N. Ellsworth St. The annual Memorial Day parade, featuring high school and middle school marching bands, scout troops, veterans' organizations and other community groups, will step off at 10:30 a.m. from Jackson Avenue and West Street. Among those participating are the Naperville Municipal Band and the Great Lakes Naval Recruit Training Command band and drill team. The parade will head east to Washington Street, north to Benton Avenue and east towards the Sts. Peter and Paul parking lot. A longstanding city tradition, the event will feature more than 50 entries and is one of the only parades that doesn't include politicians or businesses, Jaime said. Many veterans plan to march in the parade, and others will ride in vintage vehicles or on the Naperville Trolley, he said, noting that the city is home to many Korean War veterans and one veteran of World War II. The parade marshal is Craig Frier and the officer of the day is Dennis Regan. Jaime said gatherers line the streets to watch the parade, and in some areas the crowd is ten people deep. 'It's just blocks after blocks of supporters,' he said. 'It's a pouring of support from the community.' A Memorial Day observance will be held at noon at Central Park, featuring the laying of a wreath, a rifle salute and the performing of 'Taps,' 'Amazing Grace' and a medley of songs that recognize each of the different military branches. Brett Nila will serve as the master of ceremonies and David Buerstetta will be the chaplain. Gold Star families also will be recognized. Naperville North High School freshman Chaithrika Sripathi will read her award-winning essay as part of the American Legion Oratorical Contest. 'It's a very nice day,' Jaime said. Veterans organizations also ask the community participate in the National Moment of Remembrance by observing one minute of silence at 3 p.m. for the military veterans who lost their lives in service, including the 114 residents of Naperville who died while on active duty. The events are made possible through the work of members of the American Legion Post 43, Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, Naperville Municipal Band as well as city, police and fire officials, Jaime said. Planning for Memorial Day begins in January. 'Naperville has a long tradition of supporting our veterans and their families,' he said. 'Many members of our community take this very serious event to heart and pour out of our hearts to make this happen.' DuPage County will observe Memorial Day in a ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at the Veterans Memorial outside the county's government complex, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton. The memorial commemorates DuPage County residents who lost their lives in military conflicts at home and abroad beginning with the Black Hawk War in 1832 and continuing through the most recent engagements, a news release said. Guests should park in the south lot of the 421 Administration Building. The ceremony will feature the laying of the wreath by Gold Star families and a weapons salute by the DuPage Honor Guard, the release said. The DuPage Honor Guard will retire the colors. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the atrium of the administration building.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Memorial Day parades and services in Berks
The following Memorial Day events are scheduled in Berks County: Robesonia Patriotic Order Sons of America Camp 113 will hold a brief memorial remembrance ceremony May 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Henry P. Robeson Memorial Park at Penn Avenue and Robeson Street in Robesonia. Guest speaker will be state Sen. Chris Gebhard. Wyomissing The annual parade and memorial service at Wyomissing Hills Memorial Park and Playground, 53 Valley Road, will be held May 24. Following the parade, a memorial ceremony and tribute will take place around the flagpole area. Parade participants are to gather at the Wyomissing Hills Elementary School parking lot by 9:15 a.m. The parade begins at 10. The route is Lawndale Road continuing on Warwick Drive to Tewkesbury Drive to South Hampton Drive to Downing Drive to Mayfair Road to the playground and park. The Memorial Day Committee encourages youths to join the parade by decorating their bikes, scooters and wagons. Residents are encouraged to display American flags. After the ceremony, the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girls Scouts will be on-site with concessions, including a chicken barbecue and bake sale. There will be plenty of family fun and activities. Parking is not permitted on the parade route until 11 a.m. No business or political advertising is allowed by parade participants. Col. Jay Ostrich of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and the Director of the Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs speaks during last year's Memorial Day ceremony at the Grand Army of the Republic monument in Charles Evans Cemetery. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE) Oley The parade will take place May 25 at 6 p.m., starting at Oley Valley High School, 17 Jefferson St., then west on Main Street to Friedens UCC Church, 337 Main St. A ceremony will follow in Friedens Cemetery. Keynote speaker is John Henschel, Vietnam veteran and American Legion Post 878 (Oley) member who heads the fundraising committee for the Agent Orange Memorial Foundation. Fleetwood The Fleetwood American Legion Post 625-sponsored Memorial Day program begins May 26 at 9 a.m. at Fleetwood Cemetery with a short memorial service. Following the service, the parade will form on Laurel Street, proceed west on Arch Street and continue to the Fleetwood Community Park for the program beginning about 10 a.m., featuring retired Sgt. Maj. Audrey M. Bergstresser as the speaker. Music will be provided by the Fleetwood High School Band. Mohnton The parade starts at 9 a.m. May 26 at the Earl Eshelman Memorial VFW Post 9045, 225 W. Wyomissing Ave., proceeds to Walnut Street to Church Street and ends at the Mohnton Cemetery with a service. A concert by the Buccaneers follows in the park. Exeter Township The parade on May 26 departs at 9 a.m. from Exeter High School on East 37th Street. The route: right on Grant Street, left on East 36th Street, across Perkiomen Avenue, right on Circle Avenue, left on West Neversink Road to Forest Hills Cemetery for a ceremony. The ceremony is rain or shine. The parade could be canceled at the discretion of the American Legion due to weather. Boyertown The annual parade will begin at the Boyertown High School Monroe Street entrance May 26 at 9:30 a.m. The parade will travel west on Philadelphia Avenue to the Fairview Cemetery, where a service will start at about 10. Shillington American Legion Reber-Moore Post 635 of Shillington will hold its 97th annual parade and ceremony on May 26. The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Shillington Park and proceed to Broad Street to Sterley Street to Pennsylvania Avenue to Brobst Street to Shillington Town Hall. For information on registering a group in the parade, go to or send your completed form to ShillingtonMDP@ Reading Two ceremonies hosted by the Combined Veterans Council of Berks County will be held May 26. The first ceremony will be at Veterans Grove in City Park at 9 a.m. The second ceremony will be at the Civil War Monument in Charles Evans Cemetery on Centre Avenue at about 10:15 a.m. Organizations and veterans groups who would like to participate should contact the council at 610-413-0020. Muhlenberg Township The Muhlenberg Township Parks and Recreation Department's program will be in Jim Deitrich Park near the flagpole on May 26 at 9 a.m. The program will consist of Gold Star Son Stewart 'Rusty' Lerch, who lost his father in WWII. Speakers will include state Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock and Muhlenberg Commissioners Mike Malinowski and Kevin Lerch. The posting of the colors will be done by Boy Scout Troops 161 and 155. The Rev. Linda Kozlowski of Good Shepherd UCC will offer the invocation and benediction. Music will be provided by a brass ensemble from the Muhlenberg High School under the direction of Nathan Mohler. Taps will be performed. Local author Dave Roslin will read his poem, 'MIA.' 'Freedom isn't Free' will be recited by a Muhlenberg High School student. Bagpiper Diana Cook will play, and wreaths will be laid in honor of Gold Star families and all military branches as well as police and firefighters. Light refreshments will be served afterward at the Steve Landes Pavilion. Bring your own chairs. For more information, call 610-929-4727. Kutztown The parade forms at the Kutztown Fairgrounds on May 26 at 8 a.m. and departs for Fairview Cemetery at 8:30. From there, the parade continues to Hope Cemetery, where Nick Snyder, director of veterans affairs at Kutztown University, will give an address. Wernersville The parade will take place May 26 at 10 a.m., starting from the Western Berks Fire Station, 111 Stitzer Ave., then east on East Washington Avenue to Ursinus Drive at Phoebe Berks, west on East Wilson Avenue to the fire station. A ceremony will follow at the War Memorial on the fire company grounds.
