Kane County Memorial Day Ceremonies, Parades, Events 2018
Editor’s Note: Kane County is the home to 20,114 veterans, the seventh-largest county by veteran population in the state of Illinois. This article was compiled with the help of Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission Superintendent Jacob A. Zimmerman in appreciation of our veterans’ service and sacrifice.- This article will be updated as more event news releases are received. To submit a news release, email kanecountyconnects@gmail.com
Looking for a way to honor the fallen heroes of our communities or enjoy a day of parades and festivities with friends and family this Memorial Day weekend?
One special event this year is the memorial service for Navy Radioman 2nd Class Walter H. Backman, the formerly “unknown” sailor killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, who will be laid to rest on Memorial Day at River Hills Memorial Park in Batavia.
The U.S. Navy will conduct the memorial service with Rear Admiral Carol Lynch presiding and will also include a seven-member honor detail.
As a reminder, government offices are closed on Monday, and U.S. and state flags are to fly at half staff from sunrise to noon, by order of Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Below is a list of some of the many events taking place in Kane County, IL.
Algonquin / Lake in The Hills
Memorial Day Parade and Cookout
Lake in the Hills American Legion Post 1231 hosts a day of memories and thanks for our veterans. A parade starts at 10 a.m. marching to the Veteran’s Memorial off Harrison. The legion will host a cookout for all marchers.
Aurora
Bronze Star Recipient to Lead Memorial Day Parade
Lifelong Auroran, veteran and Bronze Star recipient Sgt. First Class Christopher Hess has been named Grand Marshal of the 2018 Memorial Day Parade.
Hess
Born and raised in Aurora, Hess is a Class of 1985 graduate of Aurora Central Catholic High School, where he has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. He earned an Associates Degree from Waubonsee Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree from Western Illinois University.
After college, Hess enlisted into the United States Marines where he served 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.
In his current role as career counselor of the Illinois National Guard Armory at East Aurora High School, Hess helps to guide the career paths of the next generation of military leaders.
“This is such an incredible honor,” said Hess when he was informed of the selection. “I’m humbled and grateful to serve my country and my community.”
Hess has received dozens of honors and recognitions, including the Bronze Star Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Illinois Lincoln Medal of Freedom and the National Guard Master Recruiting Badge.
An active member of the Aurora Veterans Advisory Committee, Hess is also a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Marine Corps League. He is the proud father of Emily Marie and Elizabeth Anne Hess.
SFC Hess will lead the 2018 Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 28 at Noon in downtown Aurora. He will be honored at the next meeting of the Aurora City Council at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at Aurora City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place.
The parade and meeting are open to the public. Click this link for more about the parade.
Batavia
- Ceremony: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, May 28, at Batavia VFW Overseas Post 1197, 645 S. River St., Batavia. 630-879-9630.
- Herring Breakfast: starts at 7 a.m.; food typically runs out by 10 a.m. $10 per plate.
East Dundee / West Dundee
VFW Memorial Day Parade & Program
The annual Memorial Day Parade and program is organized by the Tri-Cities VFW Post 2298 in West Dundee and takes place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 27, at Main Street, ending at Grafelman Park.
The parade steps off at Van Buren Street in East Dundee at 2 p.m. and progresses west to Grafelman Park in West Dundee.
A program remembering fallen service men and women will follow in the gazebo at Grafelman Park.
Please call the Ken & Bobbie Andresen at 847-915-2884 to sign up to participate in the parade.
Elburn
- American Legion Breakfast — 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 28, 2018, at the American Legion, 112 N. Main St., Elburn.
- Parade — The annual Memorial Day Parade is hosted by American Legion Post 630 and starts at 10 a.m. at on the corner of Keslinger Road and Route 47 and ends at Blackberry Township Cemetery. The ceremony includes the reading of “Flanders Field” and the reading of the names of local veterans buried in the area.
Elgin
2018 Memorial Day Activities in Elgin
The following are events planned for Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2018 by the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association in cooperation with the city of Elgin. For further information, including possible weather related changes, visit www.elginmemorialday.org/
Events include:
Mount Hope Cemetery, 8:45 a.m. 1001 Villa Street Elgin, IL
There will be a Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute, and the playing of Taps.
Lakewood Memorial Park, 9:15 a.m. 30W730 US 20 Elgin, IL
A service to honor those buried at Lakewood Memorial Park located at 30W730 US 20 will be held at the cemetery’s Garden of Honor and include a combined color guard. The observance will conclude with a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.
Elgin Veterans Memorial Park, 9:45 a.m. 274 N. Grove Ave. Elgin, IL
Organized by the Elgin Navy Club and the Elgin Marine Corps League, this program will feature the Elgin Master Chorale and is especially designed to pay tribute to veterans interred at sea.
Following a presentation by Elgin Navy Club members, the service will conclude with the strewing of flowers into the Fox River, rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. Elgin’s Veterans Memorial Park is located adjacent to the Gail Borden Public Library at 274 N. Grove Ave.
Bluff City Cemetery, 11 a.m. 945 Bluff City Blvd. Elgin, IL
This year’s program will pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. The keynote speaker will be given freelance reporter and historian Dave Gathman who will reflect on the war and Elgin’s involvement in the conflict.
This program will also include the Elgin Master Chorale and Larkin High School Band. Local students will continue the long held tradition of reading Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and General John Logan’s Orders which established Memorial Day.
The most solemn moment of the morning will be the laying of organizational wreaths at the Grand Army of the Republic memorial – an observance akin to the laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C. Activities will include a roll call of deceased veterans, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps.
Following the program, Civil War historian Ken Gough will be on hand to help anyone wanting to learn more about many of the Civil War era graves in the cemetery.
Again this year: A free shuttle bus will pick up riders at the main gate and east gate before and after the service for transportation to and from the ceremony area.
Because of limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
Special Note: The 11 a.m. program will also be broadcast live on WRMN Radio, 1410 AM.
Special Note: “Should weather conditions be deemed unsuitable by city officials for outdoor programs an announcement will be made no later than 8:30 a.m. on Memorial Day that the Elgin Veterans Memorial Park and Bluff City Cemetery programs will be held at their normal times at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. This information will be posted on and distributed by all possible media. Please note this possible change does not affect the Lakewood Memorial Park and Mount Hope programs.
Residents are encouraged to visit our local cemeteries during the Memorial Day period. At Bluff City Cemetery, over 600 flags honoring local veterans line the streets as part of the award winning “Avenue of Flags.” There are also more than 2800 smaller flags flying over veterans graves placed by local volunteers as part of the “Adopt a Cemetery” program.
Geneva
Delnor Multi-Sport Madness Race, Memorial Day Parade Street Closures Announced
The Delnor Multi-Sport Madness race will be held on the hospital campus and surrounding roadways from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 27. The following streets will be shut down to traffic during the event:
- Williamsburg Avenue west of Randall Road,
- Fisher Drive north of Heartland Drive to Bricher Road, and
- Bricher west of the Geneva Commons to Peck Road.
Delnor Hospital’s campus, 300 Randall Road, will be accessible from Keslinger Road. The Fisher Farms subdivision, west of Fisher Drive, will be open at Keslinger, Heartland Drive and Prairieview Drive. Geneva Police officers and race officials will assist residents living east of Fisher Drive, north of Williamsburg, in leaving or entering their street.
Traffic control will attempt to limit the inconvenience as much as possible, but people should expect some delays while runners and bicyclists are on the roadway.
Beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, May 28, the American Legion Fox River – Geneva Post 75 will step off its annual Memorial Day Parade from the Geneva Train Station.
The parade will feature the color guard, local veterans, city officials, Boy and Girl Scouts, Geneva High School Marching Band, military re-enactor units and Geneva Police and Fire Department vehicles.
The procession will travel north on Third Street to the West Side Cemetery, Third and Stevens streets, where a Memorial Day ceremony will be held.
Third Street will be closed during the parade as will the intersection of State and Third streets. While the parade is short in duration, motorists are encouraged to use Route 31 as an alternate route.
The Geneva Police Department appreciates the public’s patience and hopes everyone has a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.
MEMORIAL DAY PANCAKE BREAKFAST — While in Geneva, don’t forget the 65th annual Memorial Day pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the corner of South Third and Hamilton streets.
Huntley
SOURCE: Huntley American Legion Facebook page
Come honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice and those that have served our country at this year’s Memorial Day Parade.
The parade kicks off from the Municipal Complex at 11 a.m. and travels west on Main Street to the Town Square. At the end of the parade there will be a short ceremony and then all are invited into the Legion Hall for a free sandwich.
Questions? Contact Huntley American Legion Post 673 at 847-669-8485 or post673@huntleylegion.org
North Aurora
Every year, members of the Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84 visit four cemeteries to pay respects to the fallen veterans of the community. The members meet at the following:
- 8 a.m. at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery located at 675 U.S. 30, Aurora
- 9 a.m. at Annunciation Cemetery located at 1820 Church Road, Aurora
- 9:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Cemetery located on Route 25 at Mitchell Road, Aurora
- 10 a.m. at River Hills Memorial Park Cemetery located at 1650 S. River, Batavia, IL
Memorial Day Parade
The Roosevelt – Aurora American Legion Post 84 participates in the Aurora parade. The city of Aurora annually remembers and honors all the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
- The pre-parade program begins at 11:15 a.m. at the Reviewing Stand in front of the David L. Pierce Art & History Center on Downer Place.
- The parade begins at noon.
St. Charles
St. Charles to Host Memorial Day Activities May 28
Come out to show respect for troops who have given their lives in service to our country and thank our local veterans at the St. Charles Memorial Day events to be held Monday, May 28. Activities begin at 6 a.m. and include cemetery ceremonies, a parade, and a memorial service.
This year, there will be an open house after the memorial service for all veterans and their families at the new Veterans Center (VFW, American Legion, AMVETS) in St. Charles. The center is located 311 North 2nd Street, Unit 109, on IL Route 31, directly across from Salerno’s on the River.
“We always have a tremendous outpouring of community support for our servicemen and women at our Memorial Day events,” said St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina. “We look forward to seeing everyone once again as we recognize all those who have served our nation.”
Schedule of Events
Flag Raising and Cemetery Ceremonies — 6 a.m.
The ceremony begins at Baker Community Center, 101 S. 2nd St., with Boy Scouts posting colors, Honor Guard and an honorary gun salute. Boy Scout Troops will lead Flag Ceremonies beginning at the South Cemetery (east side of 7th Avenue, north of Madison), continue on to the North Cemetery (west side of IL 25/5th Avenue, north of Johnor Avenue), then conclude at the Union Cemetery (east side of IL 25/5th Avenue, north of Stonehedge Road).
Parade — 10 a.m.
The parade steps off at 6th and Main streets, and continues to Riverside Avenue.
Memorial Service — 10:45 a.m.
A special memorial service will immediately follow the parade at the Freedom Shrine along the river, west of the St. Charles Police Department, 211 N. Riverside Ave. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside the St. Charles Fire Station 1, at 112 N. Riverside Ave.
The Memorial Service is led by Event Coordinator Lt. Colonel Mark Powell, (Ret). and will include Rogina reading the Annual Proclamation, a Keynote Address from Colonel Jake Wyatt (Ret), and “Taps” played by resident Kevin Gaffney and his daughter Kacie, a senior at St Charles East High School.
Veteran Open House — 11:30 a.m.
The St Charles VFW, American Legion and AMVETS are hosting an open house at our new facility for all Veterans and their families — the new location is located on IL Route 31 directly across from Salerno’s on the River. Address is 311 North 2nd Street, Unit 109, St Charles, Il 60174
For more information about Memorial Day events, please contact Mark Powell at mpowell@onpathfinancial.com 630.329.6444.
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