Lake County celebrates Memorial Day with parades, ceremonies
Many Lake County communities will have parades and ceremonies to mark Memorial Day. Here is a listing of what's planned in your community.
College of Lake County
Fifth annual Memorial Day ceremony at noon Friday, May 25, outside at the CLC Willow Lake Veterans Memorial on the campus at 19351 W. Washington St., Great Lakes Naval Station staff will be represented with a drill team, color guard, bugle and chaplain. Sheila Baker Bondurant will sing the national anthem. There also will be a keynote speaker and patriotic readings.
Antioch
A memorial service is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 28 at Antioch VFW Post 4557, 75 North Ave. The service, featuring a color guard and speeches, will be followed by a light lunch. (847) 395-5393.
Fox Lake
An observance is scheduled for Monday, May 28, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Fox Lake train station at Grand Avenue and Nippersink Drive. The event is sponsored by Fox Lake American Legion Post 703. For information, contact the village at (847) 587-2151, or visit the website at foxlake.org.
Grayslake
The annual parade and service are set for Monday, May 28. The parade will start at the Grayslake Central High School parking lot on Lake Street at 9:30 a.m. and travel south on Lake Street to Junior Avenue. It'll go east on Junior to Memorial Park. The service will be at Memorial Park immediately following the parade. For information, contact village hall at (847) 223-8515.
Gurnee
Gurnee American Legion Post 771 members will host a ceremony at noon Monday, May 28, at Warren Township Veterans Memorial Park, outside of the village's police headquarters, O'Plaine Road and Washington Street. The featured speaker is Gurnee resident George Iler, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and retired Army lieutenant colonel who served 23 years. Gurnee Elementary District 56's Viking Middle School band will perform. Kristin Patten of One Hope United will speak about the organization's efforts in veteran and military support, followed by a balloon release to conclude the ceremony. The public is invited to the Gurnee American Legion home at Grand Avenue and Route 21 for a light luncheon after the ceremony.
Island Lake
The village will observe the National Moment of Remembrance on Monday, May 28 at 3 p.m. at Veterans Park, 332 W. State Road. Local dignitaries will be on hand for services reflecting on the sacrifices of veterans and the value of freedom. For information visit www.villageofislandlake.com.
Lake Villa
The village and Lake Villa VFW Post 4308 and Boy Scout Troop 323 will host the annual parade on Monday, May 28. The event starts at 1 p.m., with a parade lineup scheduled at 11:30 a.m. at Polumbi Middle School at 131 McKinley Ave. A memorial service will follow the parade at Lehmann Park on Main Street. The Ladies Auxiliary Hot Dog Luncheon will be available at the VFW Post on Grand Avenue after the ceremonies. For information, contact the village at (847) 356-6100.
Lake Zurich
The Lake Zurich American Legion Post will host its annual Memorial Day Parade and Service. The parade starts 10 a.m. on Monday, May 28 at Legion Post 964, 51 Lions Drive, and proceeds to the Veterans Memorial at 2200 Mohawk Trail, where a brief service will be conducted by Legion members and local dignitaries. For information call (847) 438-2632.
Libertyville
The annual parade and ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 28 in downtown Libertyville. The parade led by the American Legion and VFW begins at the Metra train station on Lake Street south on Milwaukee Avenue to Cook Park, where a ceremony to honor members of the armed services is scheduled for about 9:45 a.m. The Libertyville High School band will play several selections and there will be presentations by high school essay winners. Flag folding and flag collection ceremonies are also planned as are a prayer, firing of weapons by the color guard and playing of taps by a bugler for departed comrades. The color guard will reassemble and march to the Veterans Monument at Lakeside Cemetery where taps will be played and weapons again fired to conclude the program. Call (847) 362-2430 or visit libertyville.com.
Lincolnshire
A ceremony is planned for 10 a.m. on Monday, May 28 at Spring Lake Park, 49 Oxford Drive. The guest speaker is Capt. Randall John Lynch, commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes. An honor guard, musicians and a flag retirement will round out the event. For information, call (847) 913-2360 or visit village.lincolnshire.il.us.
Lindenhurst
A ceremony is planned for 10 a.m. on Monday, May 28, at Veterans Memorial Park, 2301 E. Sand Lake Road. The Lakes Community High School band, Lindenhurst Scout Troop 1987 Color Guard, Millburn West Choir and Lindenhurst Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4894 will present. Retired Army Lt. Col. Ryan Yantis, a Sept. 11 Pentagon survivor and keynote speaker, will share his story. Call (847) 356-8252 or visit lindenhurstil.org for information.
Mundelein
The annual parade is planned for 10 a.m. Monday, May 28. It runs west on Hawley Street from the village hall to Memorial Park, where Mayor Ken Kessler will speak. Call (847) 949-3200 or visit mundelein.org.
Old Mill Creek
The Historic Millburn Community Association Inc. is sponsoring its annual Memorial Day Service at 2 p.m. Monday, May 28, at the Millburn Cemetery. The one-hour service will include guest speakers, patriotic music, trumpeters, and a color guard from the Gurnee American Legion. Cookies and lemonade will be provided after the service. Guests are welcome to bring a lawn chair and flowers to place on veterans' graves. Millburn Cemetery is on Millburn Road across the street from Millburn Central School, east of Route 45 and west of Hunt Club Road.
Round Lake Area and Hainesville:
A parade sponsored by all four Round Lake villages, the village of Hainesville, the Round Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 28 at the American Legion post at 111 E. Main St. in Round Lake Park. It'll end at Round Lake Beach's Veterans Park, Cedar Lake Road and Clarendon Drive. There will be a ceremony and dedication of a 75th anniversary gazebo about 11 a.m. Call (847) 599-2525 for more information.
Wauconda
The 61st Annual Wauconda Memorial Day Parade, hosted by American Legion Post 911, kicks off at 10 a.m. Monday, May 28 at the Wauconda Park District, 600 N. Main St. Lake County's largest Memorial Day parade runs south along Main Street to Wauconda Memorial Park at Main Street and Route 176, where a Legion ceremony honoring veterans will take place. Tickets for a raffle can be purchased for cash prizes of up to $2,000. The Legion will also be accepting used electronics donations. For information visit www.waucondaparade.com.
Waukegan:
A parade is planned for 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 28. It steps off from the intersection of Grand Avenue and Genesee Street and runs through downtown to Veteran's Park, which is at Washington Street and Martin Luther King Drive. Call (847) 599-2525.