Naperville Memorial Day events feature Navy rear admiral

A suburban son turned military rear admiral will return to the area to lead Naperville's Memorial Day festivities Monday.

Rear Adm. Michael J. Browne will serve as grand marshal in the parade that steps off from Centennial Beach at 10:30 a.m.

Browne currently works as deputy chief engineer of Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Elmhurst, however, and still has relatives in the area, including a sister and her family in Naperville.

The Memorial Day events are "a chance to come out from Washington and share my Navy story with local communities and participate in holiday festivities," he said.

Browne will lead the parade as it marches east on Jackson Avenue, north on Washington Street, east on Jefferson Avenue, north on Brainard Street and west on Van Buren to Central Park.

Ron Keller, director of the Naperville Municipal Band, said he and other organizers are thrilled to have Browne participating in the event and hopes people will come out to show their support for those who have served in the military.

"Dress patriotic," Keller said. "Wave the flag, don't forget to salute when the flags go by and thank a veteran. That's really important."

Following the parade there will be a program at the Community Concert Center in Central Park. The event will include a performance by the Naperville Municipal Band, Gregory Middle School chorus and bagpipers from the Naperville Fire Department.

Browne also will give a talk that will include the history of the holiday, an update of armed forces activity and appreciation for local servicemen and women.

"It's an opportunity to celebrate our freedoms as a country and thank the service members who make sacrifices to serve to help protect our freedoms and our way of life," Browne said. "It's a good tradition for each generation to pass along to succeeding generations and celebrate patriotism and teach that to our kids in the next generation."

Monday morning there will be several brief services around Naperville as well, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower/Sept. 11 Memorial; 8:30 a.m. at Veteran's Park; 8:50 a.m. at the Burlington Park Doughboy sculpture; 9:15 a.m. at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery; 10 a.m. at the GAR Monument in Naperville Cemetery; 10:40 a.m. at the corner of Webster and Jackson.

Monday's events are organized by Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 and American Legion Post 43.