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 28, 2018.
The parade will step off at Noon from the intersection of Benton and River, head east on Benton, north on Broadway, west on Downer Place and ending at River Street. The reviewing stand will be stationed at the Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Pl.
The pre-parade ceremony - In Memory of Many, In Honor of All - will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the reviewing stand with special performances and remarks from veterans Mayor Richard C. Irvin and Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal Sergeant First Class Christopher Hess.
A lifelong Auroran, veteran and Bronze Star recipient, Hess served in the United States Marine Corps for four years, including a tour of duty in Operation Desert Storm. Since 2001, Hess has served with the Illinois Army National Guard completing tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievements.
The 2018 Memorial Day Parade will also feature local veteran groups and military organizations, including the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council, Roosevelt Aurora American Legion Post 84, Amvets Post 103, Waidley VFW #468, Fox Valley Marines, Aurora University Veterans, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Naval Sea Cadets Corps.
Five marching bands from East Aurora, West Aurora, and Waubonsie Valley High Schools, and Fischer and Still Middle Schools will fill the parade with music from our talented youth in Aurora.
Additional crowd favorites such as the electrifying South Shore Drill Team, the Lamplighters Chorus, the Aurora Shriners Club, the East Aurora NJROTC, Aurora 88's Roller Derby League and Simply Destinee Dance Team will help to energize Aurora for the 150th anniversary of Memorial Day.
Free parking is available in downtown. Visitors are encouraged to arrive prior to 11:15 a.m. to provide enough time for parking and viewing preparation on the parade route.
For a parking map and additional details, visit https://www.aurora-il.org/1244/Memorial-Day-Parade