Aurora to honor its own patriots

Aurora's first parade of the season Monday will celebrate lives of local and national heroes while observing Memorial Day.

City special events coordinator Sanura Young said the theme for this year's parade will remain "Aurora Honors our Patriots," a continuation from last year's theme.

"Previous years have celebrated our heritage as a community but last year we celebrated our patriots and veterans," she said. "And that will continue will this year's observance."

Pre-event observances begin at 11:15 a.m. at the reviewing stand at 20 E. Downer Place. The nearly 70-unit procession will then step off at noon from South River and Benton streets.

Young said about 70 units are scheduled to participate, including the headlining South Shore Drill Team & Performing Arts Ensemble from Chicago. The Aurora American Legion Band and several high school and junior high marching bands and veterans groups also will march and perform.

Gone this year will be Honor Guard Chicago, which is a nonprofit organization that takes veterans to Washington, D.C., to tour the World War II, Korean, Vietnam and Iwo Jima memorials. Young said the group has decided to save money by not participating in the parade and instead focus its money on sending the veterans to D.C.

Despite that, Young said Aurora is still the place to be to observe the holiday.

"We do it right in Aurora by showcasing our entire community from our schools to our residents to our business community," she said. "And we all come together to be proud Aurorans and Americans."