Suburban Memorial Day observances
Boy Scouts from Troop 32 in Arlington Heights march in the Arlington Heights Memorial Day parade which started on Arlington Heights Road and ended with a ceremony at Memorial Park. Greg Padovani, parade master of ceremonies said there were 60 units in the parade. Mark Jansen with Big Waters Federation wore his Blackhawks jersey while marching in the parade and said it was a tough day to be a Hawks fan.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Looney Tunes characters and dancers entertained war veterans and their families during the Welcome Home Celebration held Monday at Six Flags Great America.
Vincent Pierri | Staff Photographer
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns addresses the crowd during the Geneva Memorial Day parade and gathering at West Cemetery.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Members of The Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association, in cooperation with the city of Elgin, start Memorial Day ceremonies with a color guard including Chuck Heilmann of Elgin American Legion Post 57 .
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Ralph Fisher of Naperville VFW Post 3873 marches during the Naperville Memorial Day parade.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
The American Flag is reflected in the Grayslake veterans monument during the village Memorial Day ceremonies.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Korean war veteran Bob Wegge of Avon Township gathers video of the Grayslake Memorial Day parade Monday.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Vernon Blum, past commander of American Legion Post 43, waves to the crowd during the Naperville Memorial Day parade.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Lake Villa's annual display of flags near downtown Monday for Memorial Day.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Tim Balster, stilt walker, sits down and watches the Itasca Concert Band line up before the Itasca Memorial Day parade.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Lee Christopher of Streamwood takes a photo of his daughter Arielle Christopher before the Itasca Memorial Day parade. Arielle is the 2008 Long Grove Little Miss Strawberry Festival Queen.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Quentin Moore, of Wolf Scouts Den 138, left, and James Haughan of Wolf Scouts Pack 111 pause in prayer during the Geneva Memorial Day parade and gathering at West Cemetery.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Naperville Mayor George Pradel prepares for the Naperville Memorial Day parade.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Members of The Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association, in cooperation with the city of Elgin, start Memorial Day ceremonies with a color guard of, from left, Chuck Heilmann, Rich Hamilton, and Gordon Steinway of Elgin American Legion Post 57 .
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Cub Scouts in pack 132 rode in sailing style in the Arlington Heights Memorial Day parade which started on Arlington Heights Road and ended with a ceremony at Memorial Park.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Members of Taylor's Battery B make their way down Catalpa Avenue during the Itasca Memorial Day parade.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
A reminder at the Grayslake Memorial Day parade Monday of the cost for our freedom.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Richard Tippett of Zion and member of the Lake Villa VFW Post 4308 marches in the annual Lake Villa Memorial Day parade Monday afternoon.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Boy Scouts from Buffalo Grove Troop 401 carry the colors to begin Memorial Day services at Knopf Cemetery in Buffalo Grove on Monday. The annual event is organized by members of the Kingswood United Methodist Church.
Vincent Pierri | Staff Photographer
"I wish they put the names in alphabetical order because ...you forget where they (commemorative bricks) are," said Navy veterans Kaye, left, and Roger Williams. Here, the two walk along the memorial to find their name at Veterans Gateway Park in Schaumburg.
Jason Chiou
Naperville VFW Post 3873 and American Legion Post 43 members lead the the Naperville Memorial Day parade.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Jeffery Kollum, left and Ron Rupp, both of Buffalo Grove bow their heads during a moment of prayer during the service. Kollum was an U.S. Army Reservist from 1970-1976. Rupp is a Vietnam War veteran. He served was there in 1969-1970.
Vincent Pierri | Staff Photographer
Members of The Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association, in cooperation with the city of Elgin, start Memorial Day ceremonies with a color guard of, from left, Chuck Heilmann, Rich Hamilton, and Gordon Steinway of Elgin American Legion Post 57 .
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Lake Villa's annual Memorial Day parade heads down Kevin Ave. Monday afternoon.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
The 32nd Fox Trot snakes through Elgin.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
U.S. Army veteran Rich Martorelli returned from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with permanent brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder two years ago.
Vincent Pierri | Staff Photographer
Marine veteran and senior vice commander of Schaumburg VFW 2202 Tom Mueller stands as he prepares to play the bugle as the color guard march to the Veterans Memorial on Monday at Veterans Gateway Park in Schaumburg. Mueller served in the Korean War from 1948-1952 and chose to serve in the Marines over attending DePaul University for accounting, "I enjoyed it (Marines) and learned a lot of things," said Mueller.
Jason Chiou
Michael J. Browne, Rear Admiral, USN of Elmhurst is the grand marshal of the Naperville Memorial Day parade. At left is his son David, 9, and Wife Carol, right.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Commander Dan Clark, from left, Lenny Swanson, Leonard Pietrusiewicz, and Jon Kallman, all of American Legion Post 75, walk the parade route during the Geneva Memorial Day parade and gathering at West Cemetery .
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center carried the colors during the Welcome Home Celebration held at Six Flags Great America on Monday.
Vincent Pierri | Staff Photographer
Korean War veteran and member of the Grayslake VFW Post 2245 Dick Whittington of Grayslake enjoys marching in the annual Grayslake Memorial Day parade.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Commander Dan Clark addresses the crowd during the Geneva Memorial Day parade and gathering at West Cemetery.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
The ten mile race passes the Tower Building during the 32nd Fox Trot.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
The Naperville Memorial Day parade makes its way east.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
U.S. Navy Commander Jon Lundquist bows his head during a prayer at the Welcome Home Celebration at Six Flags in Gurnee on Memorial Day.
Vincent Pierri | Staff Photographer
Gwen Hart of Arlington Hts. and her son Matthew, 9, reflect on the remarks spoken by Buffalo Grove Village President Elliot Hartstein during the Memorial Day service at Knopf Cemetery on Monday.
Vincent Pierri | Staff Photographer
At right Joseph J. Chovelak, group historian for the 20th Air Force 314th Wing out of Guam, greets Colin and Cali Bierman during the Naperville Memorial Day parade.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Several thousand were expected to take in the Naperville Memorial Day parade.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Elgin Mayor Ed Schock address the crowd before the start of the 2-mile walk as part of the the 32nd Fox Trot in Elgin.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Dan McDonald of Itasca prepares the POW flag for proper display before the Itasca Memorial Day parade. Dan is a member of the VFW North DuPage Post 5167.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Craig McCloud, drum major for the Tunes of Glory Pipe Band Inc. of Warrenville, warms up before the Itasca Memorial Day parade.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Lake Villa VFW Post 4308 member Michael Seidler of Grayslake keeps a sharp eye on his fellow color guard members during Monday's Memorial Day parade in Lake Villa.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Mark Jansen with Big Waters Federation wore his Blackhawks jersey while marching in the parade and said it was a tuff day to be a Hawks fan.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Army veteran and color guard member Ernest Feret bows his head to commemorate the fallen during the Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Gateway Park in Schaumburg. Feret served in the army from 2005-2008 and served a tour of duty in Iraq.
Jason Chiou