Batavia to host three summer patriotic celebrations
For patriotic citizens in the Tri-Cities area, the next five weeks provide a red, white and blue trifecta of fun and special memories.
• On Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, at 11 a.m., the Batavia Overseas Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1197 on Route 25 will be hosting an outdoor remembrance ceremony to honor those who have fallen in service to the nation.
The Batavia Community Band will be providing a patriotic salute to all branches of the service. Marine veteran Bill Gray, a rising star in country music, will be singing "The Star Spangled Banner."
This spring, the Batavia VFW has raised thousands of dollars through poppy sales to provide smart TVs for veterans at the LaSalle Veterans' Home to connect families with their loved ones. VFW members will be selling poppies throughout the Memorial Day weekend: at Woodman's, 151 Hansen Blvd. in North Aurora from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 29-30, and on Monday, May 31 at the Batavia VFW, 645 S. River St.
• On Monday, June 14, the Batavia community will celebrate Flag Day outdoors at 7 p.m. at the Peg Bond Center on the Riverwalk. The Batavia Community Band will provide a concert of patriotic favorites, along with a tribute to Dr. Bernard Cigrand, the nationally recognized Father of Flag Day and a Batavia dentist for decades. An update on the building of the Flag Day Monument, dedicated to Dr. Cigrand and our military and first responders, will be shared. Posters of what the monument will look like as well as ways to purchase bricks and challenge coins to help fund the monument will be available.
• On Sunday, July 4, the City of Batavia will host its 70th annual fireworks Sky Concert on the fields at Engstrom Park and Batavia High School.
Starting at approximately 5 p.m., food vendors will offer a variety of foods. The Batavia Community Band will provide a patriotic concert prior to the 9:30 p.m. firing off a beautiful fireworks show set to popular music past and present. No taxpayer dollars are ever used to pay for these fireworks which are totally funded by individual, business, and organization donations, along with fundraisers such as the Citywide Garage Sales the first weekend in May.
Due to the pandemic, most fundraising opportunities were not able to be held this past year. Therefore, any and all donations are incredibly important this year to help pay for the fireworks, sound system, lighting, etc., which all make the fireworks show such a beloved event in the Fox Valley area.
Go to bataviafireworks.org to donate, or drop off a check to Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Ave., addressed to the Batavia Fireworks Committee.
On the fields before, during and after the fireworks show, please look for volunteers in bright yellow T-shirts who will gladly take your cash donations.
Thank you for supporting all three of these special events with your participation and dollars.
May these summer patriotic traditions which were so dearly missed in 2020 lift up your spirits and bring joy to you and your families this year!