There may be nothing like it in the state of Illinois and few celebrations for our nation’s servicemen and women more extensive or more meaningful than Vets Week in Aurora, which will extend from Armed Forces Day on May 20 to Memorial Day on May 29, 2017.

Every branch of the the military and virtually every era of armed-forces service will be remembered, from a Civil War Memorial Dedication to a Vietnam veterans 50^th anniversary recognition event.

And it will be fun, with a car show, a $1 showing of Saving Private Ryan, a drive-through barbecue and a patriotic concert by the Chicago Brass Band, just to name a few.

The Armed Forces Car Show is new to the event this year, set to take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the West Plaza Shopping Center, 2131 West Galena Boulevard. The event is free for spectators, and the entry fee to display a motorcycle, car, truck, new or old/restored or other kind of vehicle is $15. Several awards will be presented, including “Best in Show,” “People’s Choice” and others. For more information call Joe Toma at 630-899-9021.

This is the second year of Vets Week, which opened to rave reviews last year, when it was hailed as the first-ever vets week in Illinois history.

This year’s schedule is, if anything, bigger and better, as the schedule below indicates. But the purposed isn’t just to have fun or to honor those who have sacrificed for our country.

Vets Week’s mission is to raise funds for veterans in need. Funds will go to veteran housing, job placement, service dogs, scholarships for family members of veterans and educating the public on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, combating the veteran homelessness and other veteran-related assistance.

“I am so impressed with how the team of 13 Aurora Veterans Advisory Council members have put together 10 days of events to honor and say thanks to our veterans,” said Joe Toma, chairman of AVAC. “In an amazing effort of joy and enthusiasm, ‘Vets Week’ not only pulls together local volunteers but also volunteers from as far away as South Carolina who are shipping a truck load of brand-new items to be distributed to our local needy veterans.

“All of the events of ‘Vets Week’ include all veterans and the families of veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he added.”It is definitely a lot of work to put this together. But I also have to say it’s a labor of necessity.”

2017 Events Schedule

May 20 – Armed Forces Car Show, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at West Plaza, 2131 West Galena Boulevard, far West parking lot.

May 21 – 5K Fun Run, Walk, Woof and Roll, with registration at 6:30 a.m. and shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. at Phillips Park.

May 22 – Veterans Home Ownership 10, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fox Valley Park District’s Prisco Center, Illinois Avenue and Lake Street.

May 22 – $1 Move “Saving Private Ryan” at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Arts Theater.

May 23 – Day of Giving at 10 a.m. hosted by Fox Valley Marines with Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry at a place to be determined.

May 23 – Presentation of Aurora as a Purple Heart City, at 6 p.m., hosted by the city of Aurora Veterans Advisory Council, City of Aurora, 44 E. Downer Place.

May 24 – Civil War Memorial Dedication Memorial Park at 6 p.m. at “Root Street Cemetery,” Flag Street and Root Street.

May 25 – Drive-Through BBQ, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 461, Sullivan and Highland Avenue. Tickets are $15 each for one-half chicken or two pork chop. Tickets are available today from Joe Toma at 630-899-9021. This is the only fundraiser for the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council, to help get service dogs for veterans and give scholarships to the community high schools.

May 26 – Vietnam Veterans 50^th Anniversary Recognition Event, at 6 p.m. at the Fox Valley Park District’s Prisco Center, Illinois Avenue and Lake Street.

May 27 – Picnic and Patriotic Concert featuring Chicago Brass Band and Reuland’s Food Service, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fox Valley Park District’s Cool Acres off of IL Route 25. All are welcome, and veterans eat free.

May 28 – Additional Names to Be Added to Monument and reception at 11 a.m. at Phillips Park Sunken Gardens.

May 29 – Memorial Day Parade at noon in downtown Aurora. One of the area’s biggest and best Memorial Day parades and celebrations.