American Legion holds Memorial Day parade

The American Legion Post 690 will sponsor a Memorial Day Parade and other related activities Monday, May 28, beginning at 10 a.m., with a service at Hillside Cemetery on Smith Street in Palatine immediately followed by a parade.

The parade will start at 10:15 a.m. at Cornell Avenue and Smith Street. The route will be north on Smith Street, east on Robertson Street, south on Brockway Street and then east on Wood Street to the Veterans Memorial in Community Park.

Following the parade at 11 a.m., there will be a short program at the Veterans Memorial and then another ceremony at the Legion Memorial in Towne Square, 150 W. Palatine Road, beginning at 12:15 p.m. Community members are invited to the American Legion across the street from Towne Square following the ceremonies.

The parade will include color guards of the Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion. Contingents from the Palatine police and fire departments, as well as community leaders and a number of youth groups will also participate. The Fremd High School Marching Band will be performing the national anthem and other patriotic music during the parade and throughout the rest of the program.

Groups that would like to participate in the parade are asked to call the American Legion at (847) 359-1606 after noon on any day and leave their name and phone number. A member of the parade committee will return their call and fill them in on the arrangements.

"To help the community honor our veterans, we will be selling American flags from our clubroom in the American Legion at 122 W. Palatine Road in Palatine," said Gerard Iannuzzelli, Commander of the Sons of the American Legion. "Flags are $20. The bartender will be more than happy to help you with a flag."

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation's largest veterans service organization, committed to mentoring and sponsorship of youth programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.

The Palatine Chapter holds its monthly general meeting the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 122 W. Palatine Road in Palatine.

For details, call (847) 359-1606, email palatinesal@gmail.com or visit www.alpost690.us.