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Memorial Day event surpassed all others

The Memorial Day Committee thanks everyone for making the 95th annual Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony one of the very best in our history.

Once again, our community showed what is in the heart of America. The outpouring of thanks and warm wishes was really appreciated by veterans and especially appreciated by the families of our Fallen Heroes.

The parade had 3,500+ marching and thousands watching. Attendance at the ceremony at Memorial Park was estimated to be 1,500+. We're told Arlington Heights was featured on TV news some 12 times.

One of our distinguished speakers, Brigadier General Gracus Dunn of the 85th Support Command, bid his thanks and farewell to our community upon his retirement. His final three years, at the Arlington Heights Reserve Center, allowed him to participate in three Memorial Days here in Arlington Heights. He said, without hesitation, that, "You, Arlington Heights, are what's good about America."

A second distinguished speaker, Richard Duchossois, spoke of his friends and comrades who were lost in Europe. From the heart, he said, "Thank you for showing the appreciation for all of those who paid the ultimate price for all of us."

U.S. Army Chaplain Matt Foley (now at St. James Catholic Church), asked us to "Honor and remember the sacrifice of all Gold Star families, for they, and their Fallen Heroes, have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms."

It's near impossible to thank everyone who participated in, contributed to or supported this wonderful communitywide event. Nor could we do justice to what people felt on that day. But we do have an archive of about 1,000 wonderful photos and a video that captured nearly every marching unit and many of the people who viewed the parade or attended the ceremony.

Greg Padovani, chairman

Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights

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