How DuPage will commemorate Memorial Day

Under a banner of red, white and blue, we will pause Monday - Memorial Day - to honor the men and women of the armed forces who have died keeping us safe and free. Our towns plan to commemorate the day with events for veterans, patriotic parades and solemn ceremonies. Here's a look at the events planned in the coming days.

Thursday 26

Veterans Week Aurora has a barbecue fundraiser from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at IBEW 461, 591 Sullivan Road, Aurora. Drive-through only. Cost: $15 donation. Info: (630) 899-9021.

Saturday 28

Veterans Week Aurora has a Veterans Family Picnic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at Cool Acres Park, 500 Clearwater Drive (Route 25), Aurora. Food served from noon to 1 p.m.; music from noon to 2 p.m. Free for veterans, $10 adults, $5 kids 10 and younger. Info: (630) 899-9021.

Sunday 29

A Memorial Day ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at the DuPage Veterans Memorial on the south side of the DuPage County government complex, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton. Robert Schroeder, past director of the DuPage Veterans Memorial, speaks and a wreath-laying follows. Info: dupageco-il-vetsmemorial.org.

• Veterans Week Aurora has a 5K Fun Run/Walk from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 29, at Phillips Park, 1000 Ray Moses Drive, Aurora. Cost: $10 kids 10 and younger, $15 adults in advance; $15/$20 at the event. Register: eventbrite.com/o/aurora-veterans- advisory-council- avac-9574692952.

Monday 30

The Addison Memorial Day Observance is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, May 30, at Addison Village Hall, 1 Friendship Plaza, Addison. Free pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. and Veterans Resource Fair from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Indian Trail Junior High School, 222 N. Kennedy Drive. Flag-raising at St. Paul Cemetery at 9:15 a.m. Community march at 9:30 a.m. to the cemetery, where an observance begins at 10 a.m. Ceremony at 11 a.m. at village hall, where a Veterans Resource Fair is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. Info: ithappensin addison.com.

• The Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, from Elmhurst City Hall, 209 N. York Street, and proceeds south on York through the bypass and west on Church Street to Wilder Park, for a ceremony. Free. Info: elmhurstchamber.org.

• The Itasca Memorial Day Parade starts at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, at Bryn Mawr and Catalpa. Parade proceeds to Usher Park, 203 S. Walnut, for a ceremony. Free. Info: itascaparkdistrict.com.

• The Naperville Memorial Day Parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, from Jackson Avenue at West Street and proceeds east to Washington Street, north to Benton, and east to the Ss. Peter and Paul Parking lot. Program follows at the Community Concert Center in Central Park. Free. Info: napervillememorialdayparade.com.

• The Lisle Memorial Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, at Lisle Junior High School, 5207 Center Ave., and proceeds to Lisle Village Hall and to Lisle Cemetery, with ceremonies at both places. Community picnic follows at Museums at Lisle Station Park, 921 School St. Free. Info: (630) 271-4100.

• The Wood Dale Memorial Day Parade steps off at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, at at Addison Road south of Elizabeth Drive. Parade ends at Veterans Memorial Park with a ceremony. Free. Info: wooddale.com.

• The Aurora Memorial Day Parade starts noon Monday, May 30, at South River and Benton in downtown Aurora with the theme "In Memory of Many. In Honor of All." Parade proceeds east on Benton, north on Broadway, west on Downer Place to end on River Street. Free. Info: aurora-il.org.

• Celebrate Memorial Day with the band DuPage performing rock, disco, country and Top 40 at 3 p.m. Monday, May 30, at the band shell at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Lawn seating; chairs and blankets welcome. Free with $10 parking. Info: cantigny.org.

• As part of Veterans Week Aurora, the movie "Platoon" is shown at 7 p.m. Monday, May 30, at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Cost: $1. Info: paramountaurora.com or (630) 896-6666.

• The Wheaton Memorial Day Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30, from Memorial Park, Hale and Kariskoga, and proceeds to the Wheaton Cemetery for a ceremony. Free. Info: (630) 682-9926.

• The Bloomingdale Memorial Day ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, at St. Paul Cemetery on Lake Street. VFW Post 7539 places flags and gives a gun salute. The Legends Choral Ensemble perform patriotic music. Limited seating; bring lawn chairs or blankets. Info: dupageblog.com/memorial-day or (630) 529-3120, ext. 2801.

• Villa Park Parks and Recreation has a grand reopening ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, at Cortesi Veterans Memorial Park, 20 S. Ardmore Ave. Villa Park. VFW Memorial Program follows with flag-raising and performance by the Willowbrook High School Choir. Info: (630) 834-8970.

• The American Legion, Northwest DuPage Post 1084, commemorates Memorial Day at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, at the Roselle Veterans Memorial Park, 155 E. Irving Park Road, Roselle. The tribute includes the Post 1084 Honor Guard, the Trinity Brass Ensemble and Men's Choir and guest speakers. Info: post1084.net.

• With "Memorial Day Remembered," visitors can get a glimpse of Decoration Day, the precursor to Memorial Day, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 30, at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Free. Info: dupageforest.org or (630) 876-5900.