Fox Valley Memorial Day observances

Aurorabull; The Aurora Memorial Day Parade steps off at noon Monday, May 31, from South River and Benton streets. It proceeds to Broadway, Downer Place, then ends at Middle and Benton. For details, call (630) 844-4731.Carpentersvillebull; "Healing Field: A Welcome Home Tribute to Our Vietnam Veterans" features U.S. flags honoring veterans on display through Monday, May 31, at Carpenter Park, off Lord Avenue and Maple Street, Carpentersville. It opens at 9 a.m. A musical tribute by Community Unit District 300 students will be held at noon with the closing ceremony at 4 p.m. The Patriot Committee of Dundee Township organized a healing field that honors the 1,748 veterans determined missing in action or prisoners of war. The Healing Field Foundation was founded in 2002 as a way to commemorate the thousands of lives lost during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Proceeds from the flag sales will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township. For details, call Jerry Christopherson at (630) 730-0558.Carybull; The Cary Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, First Street and Three Oaks Road. The lineup begins at 9 a.m. The parade will head south on First Street and end at Cary Veterans Park. For details, call Commander Al Young at (847) 639-7684.Crystal Lakebull; The Crystal Lake Memorial Day Parade steps off at 11 a.m. Monday, May 31, at Crystal Lake Central High School, 45 W. Franklin Ave. It will then proceed east on Franklin Avenue, north on William Street, west on Woodstock Street to Union Cemetery where memorial service will be held. Visit crystallake.org.Elginbull; The Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association, in cooperation with the city of Elgin, invites the community to join them commemorating Memorial Day. The day will start at 8:45 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, 1001 Villa St. There will be a Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute and playing of Taps. At 9:15 a.m. at Lakewood Memorial Park, 30W730 Route 20, a service to honor those buried at the cemetery will be held at the Garden of Honor. It will include a combined color guard, rifle salute and the playing of Taps.At 9:45 a.m., the Elgin Navy Club and the Marine Corps League will present a program honoring those who lost their lives at sea. The service will be at Veterans Memorial Park, which is adjacent to Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. The service, also featuring the Elgin Choral Union, ends with the strewing of flowers into the Fox River, a rifle salute and Taps. Use the eastbound Kimball Street from Route 31 to reach the park, due to street closings related to the Fox Trot.At 11 a.m. at Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd., the program will pay tribute to those who served in the Korean War on the conflict's 60th anniversary with an address by veteran Don Sleeman. Also featured will be the marching band from the Northwest Baptist Bible Academy and the Men's Ensemble from Providence Baptist College.Local students will continue the tradition of reading Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" and General John Logan's Order, which established Memorial Day. The most solemn moment of the morning will be the laying of organizational wreaths at the Grand Army of the Republic memorial. Activities will conclude with the roll call of deceased veterans, a rifle salute and the playing of Taps. New this year is a free shuttle bus pickup at the main gate and east gate at Bluff City Cemetery. For details, visit elginmemorialday.org.bull; The 33rd annual Elgin Valley Fox Trot will start at 8 a.m. Monday, May 31 at city hall, 150 Dexter Court. The 5K run starts at 8:05 a.m. Cost on race day is $40. The courses run through historic neighborhoods and scenic hills and ravines of Trout Park and Lords Park. There also will be a 2-mile Fun Walk at 8:10 a.m. for $10 per person or $30 per family (maximum four members). No fee for children 6 and younger. All proceeds will benefit the Elgin Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund. Visit cityofelgin.org/foxtrot. The Elgin Kiwanis "Bottomless Pancake Breakfast" continues its post-race tradition from 8 to 11 a.m. in the lower level of the Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way. Tickets are $5.Fox River Grovebull; Fox River Grove Memorial Day Parade steps off at 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 31 at Algonquin Road School, 975 Algonquin Road. It will continue down Algonquin Road to South River Road. The parade, hosted by the American Legion Frank H. Nagel Jr. Post 119, ends at Lions Park with a ceremony and 21-gun salute to honor fallen soldiers. For details, call Commander Marv Jedicker at (847) 639-3459.Genevabull; Geneva Memorial Day events begin on Monday, May 31, with color guard rifle salute at 6 a.m. at the East Side Cemetery, off Bennett Street. It then proceeds to the State Street bridge for a ceremony with flowers strewn on the river, followed by salutes around 6:30 a.m. at the Kane County Veterans Memorial at the Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., and at 7 a.m. at Geneva Township Senior Center, 400 Wheeler Drive. The Memorial Day parade steps off at 10 a.m. near the Geneva Metra Station and continues down Third Street to the West Side Cemetery, Second and Stevens streets.Hampshirebull; The Hampshire Memorial Day Parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 31 at Hampshire Middle School, 560 S. State St. It then proceeds to Ralph Seyller East park where services will be held. Hampshire High School Band will take part in the ceremonies. For details, call (847) 683-0904.Huntleybull; Huntley Memorial Day Parade will step off at 11 a.m. Monday, May 31 from Municipal Complex, 10987 Main St. It will proceed to the American Legion Post 673, Coral and Woodstock streets, Huntley. There will be a Memorial Day service after the parade at Post 673. For details, call (847) 669-8485.Kanevillebull; The Kaneville Township 115th annual Memorial Day Program will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Dave Werdin Community Center, 2S101 Harter Road, Kaneville. The guest speaker will be former resident Evan Mahan, a veteran of the Iraq war. Guest musician will be local folk singer Lee Murdock. There will be a special seating section for veterans, who will be recognized during the program. After the program, there will be a parade to the cemetery for a rifle salute and decoration of the graves. Refreshments will be served at the Community Center upon return from the cemetery. Old flags, to be retired, will be collected for disposal by the American Legion.St. Charlesbull; The city of St. Charles 2010 Memorial Day activities will begin at 6 a.m. Monday, May 31, with the raising of the colors at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St. At 6:30 a.m., there will be ceremonies at South Cemetery (east side of Seventh Avenue, north of Madison), North Cemetery (west side of Route 25, north of Johnor Avenue), and Union Cemetery (east side of Route 25, north of Stonehedge Road). This will include an honor guard, a rifle salute and posting of the colors. The Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. at Fifth Street and continues to First Avenue. Immediately after the parade, there will be a short ceremony at the Freedom Shrine, located along the river west of the Police Department, 2 State Ave. The ceremony at the Freedom Shrine will include the following guest speakers: Mark F. Powell, Mayor Donald P. DeWitte and U.S. Rep. Bill Foster. The keynote speaker will be Jonathon Monken. Powell is finishing up his second year as Commander of the local VFW. He is a Lt. Colonel in the Army Reserves working with the 85th Support Command. He has served tours of duty in Germany, Texas, Central America as well as a Combat Tour during Desert Storm flying with the Combat Aviation Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions during Desert Shield / Desert Storm. Monken was appointed by Governor Pat Quinn to be the 22nd director of the Illinois State Police on March 23, 2009. He has served one tour of duty Kosovo and two yearlong tours in Iraq between January 2003 and December 2006. While serving with the United States Army, Captain Monken was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device for valor and the Combat Action Badge.bull; Cheer on the runners of the Foot Mechanics Memorial Day Main Street Mile at 8 a.m. Monday, May 31. The race will start at Main and 14th streets and head east into downtown St. Charles. For details, visit OneMileRace.com.South Elginbull; South Elgin's annual Memorial Day Service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31 at Panton Mill Park, off North Water Street. Visit southelgin.com.West Dundeebull; A Memorial Day service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 31 at River Valley Memorial Gardens, Route 31, West Dundee. The public is invited. The spiritual address will be given by the Rev. Steven Mindrup of the First United Methodist Church of West Dundee. The Tri-Cities VFW Post 2298 and Auxiliary will participate in this half-hour service honoring over 944 veterans buried at River Valley Memorial Gardens. Soloist will be Kathy Clifford-Grazinskas. The Dundee-Crown High School trumpeters will participate with the national anthem and Taps.