The last Monday of May is reserved for Americans to honor those fallen soldiers who proudly serve/served in the United States Armed Forces. Around the country, there were Memorial day events that were held throughout the four-day long weekend in order for all to pay respects to the soldiers who paved our freedom highway with their sacrifice. Never forgotten—we remember those who have fallen in the sake of our nation in order to advance the freedoms of our country.
At 2 PM on Monday, Washington DC will host The National Memorial day parade. As performers make their way down Constitution Avenue, this yearly parade will be centered on a moving timeline that represents America’s Armed Forces military, dating back to the American Revolution and moving forward to cover the conflicts of our current time. This parade is the largest celebration in the country that is conducted on Memorial Day. The Blu-ray will also contain the usual traditions that can be traced back to the earliest parades held for the holiday, which happened to be just after the Civil War. The route formulates is beginning on Constitution Avenue at 7th St. N.W., and then it navigates its way west, making its endpoint at 17th St. N.W., just past the Washington Monument and the White House eclipse. The celebratory events are open to the public and free to attend.
In Chicago, there will be a Memorial Pay Parade as well as a Wreath Laying Ceremony at Daley Plaza that begins at 11 AM on Saturday. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Robert S. Walsh will participate as the grand marshal of the parade. Walsh serves as the commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command and Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration. The wreath ceremony will be the opening event, followed by the parade that will be kicked off at noon moving for South on State Street, traveling from Lake Street to Van Buren St. Chicago will also be the host of the 21st annual ceremony and dedication of the Gen. John A. Logan Monument, which will also feature a wreath laying ceremony as well as rededication of the monuments. This act is to commemorate the fallen soldiers who passed away while serving the nation. The music will start off this term only at 10:30 AM on Monday morning, with the wreath laying ceremony beginning at 11 AM. The Miami can be found at S. Michigan Avenue and E. 9th St. this ceremony is also free and open to the general public. A Memorial day lunch on, followed by a Blackstone Hotel Crystal Ballroom ceremony that is being hosted by the Chicago Cultural Mile Association.
Over on the East Coast, New York is hosting various annual Memorial day parades, spread out among the city’s five boroughs. The largest parade in New York, the 90th Annual Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade is being held in Queens. The parade will kick off at 2 PM, starting at Jayson Ave. and Northern Blvd., and then coming to an end at the parking lots of Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy, located on Alameda Ave. and Northern Blvd. after the parade is over, the United States Air Force Band along with The Blue Aces will be performing at the closing ceremony.
The 150th Annual King’s County Memorial Day Parade, which is held in Brooklyn, will begin at 11 AM. The route of the parade runs from 78th St. and Third Avenue, running down Third Avenue then over to Marine Avenue, making its way up Fourth Avenue to get to 101st St. and Fourth Ave. to reach an end at John Paul Jones Park. Along with other events spread out throughout the city, these events are open to the general public and free to attend. Continuing throughout the memorial day weekend, and any on Tuesday is the Navy’s Fleet Week.
On the opposite coast of the country in San Diego, California, the Mount Soledad’s Memorial Day Ceremony uniquely honors the country’s veterans as well as Gold Star families. There is a wide variety of performances they’ll be taking place which will include the United States Marine Corps Band and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Color Guard. Being led by John “Flipper” Flippen, the San Diego Performance Formation Team’s will deliver a flyover performance during the fair morning, executing the missing man formation that has been a tradition for many decades. The commanding officer of Naval Base Point Loma, Capt. Howard C. Warner III will serve as the keynote speaker, along with radio and video personality Brett Winterble, who will serve as the master of ceremonies. The ceremony will last for an hour, starting at 2 PM on Monday, and will be located at the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla, California.