Memorial Day parade takes months of prep
Dundee Township's Memorial Day parade may take 10 minutes to watch and march, but it calls for months of planning.
State highway department permission to close a portion of Route 72 for the parade has to be obtained. Leaders in West and East Dundee, the villages where the march spans, must be notified. And community groups, police and fire officials and politicians, who might want to march along with the veterans, are invited to take part.
Each year in early spring, dozens of letters are sent to those groups, such as the Boy and Girl scouts, the Dundee Lions Club, the local Rotary Club, and the Dundee Township Historical Society. Most of their members show up, said Kenneth E. Andresen, who's organizing the parade with his wife, Bobbie.
"Last year was good. We had 40 participants in the parade, he said. "This year, we hope to have more."
As organizers are waiting for responses, they contact state and Kane County politicians and ask if they will speak at the ceremony.
The parade has been held for so many years that plans fall into place easily if it's done on time. That time is now.
The march is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 24. Units start at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee and march west along Route 72 to Grafelman Park in West Dundee. There, elected leaders give speeches and a ceremony is held to honor veterans. The entire program is sponsored by members of the VFW post in West Dundee.
"This is a community parade. We'd like to have as many people as we can participate and march," Andresen said. "We still in the planning stage, but anyone who would like to be a part can call me or the VFW post."
His telephone number is (847) 551-1981. The telephone number for the VFW is (847) 428-9006.
"We'd like to have as many older veterans participate," said Pete Dawdziak, post commander. "We still have a couple who fought around the time of World War II."
Younger veterans are also urged to participate as are area families of military men and women who are currently serving. And it goes further, said Andresen.
"We honor other groups, such as police and firefighters and anyone who serves this country," he said.
Since the United States has been involved in battles in Afghanistan and Iraq, participation has been up from marchers and those who stand along the street and salute them.
The parade is only one part of the holiday's activities. On the following day, local VFW members take part in ceremonies in Dundee and Elgin area cemeteries and on the Route 72 bridge over the Fox River.