Join St. Charles Memorial Day events May 30
Show your respect for our troops who have given their lives in service to our country at the St. Charles Memorial Day event on Monday, May 30. Activities begin at 6 a.m. and include cemetery ceremonies, a parade, memorial service and free family picnic. Events are sponsored by the St. Charles Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, American Legion and AMVETS Posts. Visit www.stcharlesil.gov.
The ceremony begins at 6 a.m. at Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St., with Boy Scouts, Honor Guard and an honorary gun salute.
Starting at 6:30 a.m., Boy Scout Troops will place flags on the grave sites of our veterans at each of the cemeteries in St. Charles. Ceremonies begin at the South Cemetery (east side of Seventh Avenue, north of Madison), continue on to the North Cemetery (west side of Route 25/Fifth Avenue, north of Johnor Avenue), then conclude at the Union Cemetery (east side of Route 25/Fifth Avenue, north of Stonehedge Road).
The parade steps off at 10 a.m. at Sixth and Main streets, and continues to Riverside Avenue.
A special memorial service will immediately follow at 10:45 a.m. 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, 112 N. Riverside Ave.
The memorial service is led by Event Coordinator Lt. Colonel Mark Powell, (Ret). and will include Mayor Ray 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 junior at St. Charles East High School.
New this year will be a free family picnic. An old-fashioned family picnic follows the conclusion of the Memorial Service at the historic Pottawatomie Park Pavilion from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Enjoy grilled brats and burgers from the Blue Goose, compliments of your local veterans, and complimentary beverages and Culver's Frozen Custard. Enjoy music by local musician Gregory Hyde.
For information about Memorial Day events, contact Mark Powell at mpowell@onpathfinancial.com or (630) 329-6444.
About the City of St. Charles
Friendly neighborhoods, diverse retailers, international employers, innovative schools, beautiful parks, varied cultural amenities, and unique architecture have earned St. Charles its reputation as the Pride of the Fox. Located in both DuPage and Kane counties, the City of St. Charles is 35 miles west of downtown Chicago, and has a population of approximately 33,000. Over 1,800 businesses, consisting of a balanced mix of retailers, restaurants and manufacturing facilities, employ more than 18,000 people. The City of St. Charles was named the #1 City for Families by Family Circle® magazine in 2011; one of the "150 Great Places in Illinois," by the AIA Illinois; and one of the "Top 10 Towns To Live In" by West Suburban Living magazine. www.stcharlesil.gov.