Community Corner

Get Out: Memorial Day Events Honor Fallen Veterans

Villages and Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery host events to honor our veterans.

Although it wasn't until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, NY to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, Americans have been honoring those who died in the line of service since the 1800s.

"Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers," the United States Department of Veteran's Affairs says of Memorial Day. "Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30."

Today we celebrate Memorial Day on the last Monday in May and every year citizens come out to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, to honor our veterans.

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There is a ceremony planned at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 30, but you can help honor veterans before then.

Starting at 9 a.m., Friday, the cemetery is asking for assistance in placing flags on each of the gravesites at the cemetery. Children are welcome to participate and there is no need to reserve a spot, just show up. The cemetery is at 20953 W. Hoff Rd. in
Elwood. Volunteers should meet at the belltower and they will get instructions. Please do not double park if volunteering, as regular cemetery business will continue.

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"I think it took 45 minutes last year since we had 500 peeople," a representative at the cemetery said.

Starting at 8:45 a.m., Monday, residents will be marking the significance of the day with a kiddie parade. Between  7:30 a.m. and 8: 15 a.m., at the Channahon Police Department parking lot, parents can register their children for the parade. Kids can line up in that same lot beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a step off at 8:45 a.m.

The parade has a short route from the Police Department, around the traffic circle and on to the Municipal Building parking lot to kick off the annual Memorial Day Service.

The service will begin at 9 a.m. Channahon Junior High Band will perform patriotic music. Village President Joe Cook will speak and the invocation will be from Pastor Ben Ingelson, of the Resurrection Lutheran Church. Boy Scouts from Pack 444 will raise the flag and Anthony Babich, will play Taps the national anthem will be sung by Brianna Pursell. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, IL-11) will serve as the keynote speaker.

For more than 30 years, the American Legion Post 1188 has been sponsoring the Memorial Day parade in Minooka. This year, the parade begins at 9:30 a.m., where everyone will line up at the The parade will begin at 10 a.m.

The route will take participants down Wabena Avenue to Church Street, east to Wabasso Street, south to Mondamin Street and down to the Veteran's Park.

"We've got farm tractors in it, military vehicles, antique cars, Dave Corbin said.

This year, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, IL-11), will serve as the keynote speaker.

Shorewood

In Shorewood, the Memorial Day ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the 9:30 a.m.
Shorewood Veteran’s Memorial, One Towne Center Blvd. The ceremony will feature the Troy School Ban and the Troy Fire Department Color Guard.

Mayor Rick Chapmen and the Reverend George Klima of Hope Lutheran Church in Shorewood will be speaking.

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

Glenn Madderom, Memorial Service Network IV, Engineer will be the speaker at the Memorial Day Ceremony at the cemetery this year. The ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m., Monday, with a musical prelude at 11 a.m. There is roadside parking inside the cemetery grounds. Shuttle service is available for all parkers and handicapped parking with shuttle service is also available. For more information, call Marty Fury, Cemetery Director, Sean Baumgartner or Lynne Phelan at 815-423-9958.


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