MEMORIAL DAY PARADE ENTRIES IN LINE FOR MAY 27;
U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS SURVIVOR IS GRAND MARSHAL
ELMHURST, Ill., May 3, 2002 — Nearly 100 entries are signed up to participate in Elmhurst’s 84th Annual Memorial Day Parade, which will march from downtown Elmhurst to Wilder Park on Monday, May 27, starting at 9:30 a.m.
World War II veteran Michael N. Kuryla Jr., a former U.S. Navy coxswain 3c who survived the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2002 parade. The heavy cruiser U.S.S. Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, and sank in 12 minutes while returning from a top-secret mission to deliver atomic bomb parts and materials to the island of Tinian. Some 300 men died onboard and only 316 of 900 more shipmates survived in shark-infested waters before rescue operations were completed August 2-8.
The theme of the parade is “Always Remember,” which draws added importance following the tragic events in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001—which precipitated America’s War on Terrorism.
The annual parade is presented by the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Elmhurst American Legion T.H.B. Post 187, Veterans of Foreign Wars Walter A. Glos Post 2048 and the City of Elmhurst.
Members of the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst will again serves as Parade Marshals, and also will march carrying their giant U.S. flag.
Fellow Kiwanians Ralph Pechanio and John Quigley, president of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry, are serving as parade co-chairs.
“Our parade is a tribute to all those men and women who have so bravely put their lives on the line to defend individual freedoms here in the greatest of nations and around the world,” said Quigley. “Since the cowardly terrorist attacks on 9-11, our homeland security measures and military actions abroad have awakened Americans to the daily sacrifices made on their behalf.”
This year’s entries include five color guards (led by the Elmhurst Police Department), military officers from the United States Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, members of American Legion Post 187 and VFW Post 2048, a Civil War re-enactment infantry unit, wheelchair veterans, military vehicles and a patrol boat.
The parade also will feature vehicles representing five area fire departments (Elmhurst, Villa Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Oak Brook and Northlake), 14 scouting groups, two horse troops and 10 musical entries, along with political leaders at the state and local levels.
A total of 10 cub scout packs, three boys scout troops and a combined girl scout group will carry commemorative war banners.
Elmhurst mayor Thomas D. Marcucci will head a contingent of political leaders that includes U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde, Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, State Senator Dan Cronin, House Republican Leader Lee Daniels, State Representative Bob Biggins and the Addison Township Democrats.
Three of the musical entries hail from Elmhurst, including Elmhurst College’s world-renown Jazz Band. The marching bands from York Community High School (Marching Dukes) and Elmhurst Middle Schools, both representing Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, also will perform.
Rounding out the parade’s musical groups will be the Antioch Brass Quintet, Chicago Highlanders Pipe Band, Dixieland Tinker Toy Band, Kingsmen Drum & Bugle Corps, Pride of Evanston Drum and Bugle Corps, Tebala Drum & Bugle Corps and Van Moody Eagles Community Band.
The parade will step off at York Road and Third Street, and concludes with a military ceremony at the Veteran’s Memorial in Wilder Park. Starting from Third Street, the parade will head south on York Road to Second Street, veer east along Robert Palmer Drive through the underpass and west back to York Road, south on York Road to Church Street, west on Church Street to Prospect Avenue and north on Prospect Avenue past the Veteran’s Memorial.
For further information, call the Chamber office at (630) 834-6060.