Jenna Castillo of Montgomery and her family have a tradition of getting together with friends and family over the Memorial Day weekend, and a visit to the Aurora Memorial Day parade is always on the agenda.
“It wouldn’t be Memorial Day without this parade,” Castillo said as she and her children found a spot along Benton Street in downtown Aurora to watch Monday morning’s event. “I’d say we’ve been coming the past 10 years pretty faithfully.”
Castillo said the annual parade to honor Memorial Day is important.
“We have some family who are still in active service and some who have passed, so it means a lot to us,” Castillo said.
The Memorial Day parade in Aurora included marching bands from area high schools and middle schools as well as the Aurora Roosevelt American Legion Band.
Military organizations taking part included Roosevelt Aurora American Legion Post 84, Fox Valley Marines Detachment 1233, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Commission.
U.S. Marine Corps veteran James “Jim” Butler served as the parade’s grand marshal.
Roosevelt Aurora American Legion Band member Dave Siegfried of Aurora enjoys taking part in the annual parade.
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“I feel this is my patriotic duty that I come out and play,” he said. “I know this is a big parade and I’m not surprised by the number of people that show up. Aurora is a fairly patriotic community, and there is always a good turnout. I look forward to this. It’s one of those seasonal traditions.”
Jon Zaghloul, director of communications for the city of Aurora, said the parade is always a special event.
“This is one of the most important parades that the city of Aurora puts on every year for many reasons. First of all, it honors those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Those who diligently served our country and have unfortunately passed away,” he said. “We want to remember and memorialize them for their sacrifice for our country. On top of that this is, by far, the most attended parade that we have all year in addition to having the most participants we have in any parade per year, with the exception of Winter Lights.”
Zaghloul said the parade is a tradition for many families in Aurora.
“There is a great reason why we gather every year for it and on top of that people really like coming downtown. The businesses will be open and there will be a lot of things taking place throughout the downtown,” he said.
Thousands lined the parade route under bright sunshine Monday morning including Sarah Vandyke of Oswego and her 9-year-old daughter Megan.
“I was born and raised here in Aurora,” Vandyke said, “and my daughter likes to come and see the marching bands. I agree this is one of the best parades around. It’s worth coming to and there is a lot to see. It’s important people come to honor those who have fought for us.”
Melissa Miller of Aurora came with family to the parade.
“We have been coming to the Memorial Day parade every year I can remember,” Miller said. “I’ve been coming since I was a kid.”
“This goes back way for us – a lot of decades. Over time, it’s a tradition because we love Aurora and we want to celebrate Memorial Day with our country. It’s just a fun tradition that we have,” she said. “We love the marching bands and the veterans and the kids love the police cars and the fire trucks. It wouldn’t be Memorial Day if we didn’t come and do this first.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.