Honor our fallen veterans on Memorial Day

Summer unofficially arrives this weekend with picnics and other outdoor activities, but let’s not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day.  Memorial Day is a day that we honor our veterans that gave their lives so that we could be free.  The American Legion Post 690 is sponsoring a Memorial Day Parade and three ceremonies to honor our fallen veterans on Monday, May 27th beginning at 10:00 AM with a service at Hillside Cemetery on Smith Street in Palatine.

After a short ceremony at Hillside Cemetery, the parade will start at 10:15 AM in front of the cemetery 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.

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 Palatine High School Marching Band will be performing the National Anthem and other patriotic music during the parade and throughout the rest of the program.

Following the parade at 11:00 AM there will be a short program at the Veterans Memorial highlighted by a speech by retired Navy Commander Steve Vetter.  Our speaker has had a wide variety of military career experiences ranging from combat in Desert Storm to supporting Kurdish relief operations in northern Iraq and numerous maritime interdiction and rescue operations.  He will be sharing with attendees his views on the value and benefits of military service.

Following the ceremony at Community Park a final remembrance will be held at the Legion Memorial in Towne Square at 150 W. Palatine Road beginning at 12:15 PM.  Community members are invited to the American Legion across the street from Towne Square following the ceremonies.

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 veteran’s 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 their monthly general meeting on the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM at the American Legion Hall on Palatine Road in Palatine.  For further information on the American Legion, any of their sponsored events or for membership write to the American Legion, 122 West Palatine Road, Palatine, IL 60067, call them at 847-359-1606, email them at post690commander@alpost690.us or visit www.alpost690.us.