The seventeenth Ward holds eighth annual South Aspect Memorial Day Parade

Picture caption: 17TH WARD RESIDENT seems to be on as Buffalo Troopers participate in 2022 South Aspect Memorial Day
Parade.

The South Aspect Memorial Day Parade grows in recognition annually. Monday, Could 29, 2023, marks the eighth yr for the one Memorial Day Parade on town’s South Aspect. It was began by seventeenth Ward Alderman David Moore in response to native veterans suggesting he do one thing to honor America’s fallen troopers.

Initially known as Ornament Day, the primary parade was held Could 1, 1865, when greater than 10,000 previously enslaved individuals and white missionaries marched round a racetrack in Charleston, South Carolina. In line with writer David W. Blight’s 2001 guide, “Race and Reunion: The Civil Warfare in American Reminiscence,” lower than a month after the Confederacy surrendered, faculty kids, members of the Black Union battalions, and Black non secular figures marched round a Charleston racetrack that was the location of a mass grave through the warfare. After digging graves for every of the fallen troopers, the newly-freed Civil Warfare fighters adorned the graves within the first recorded Memorial Day celebration.

“The parade will get residents to understand and acknowledge our veterans,” says Ald. David Moore. “It additionally highlights assets for them, whether or not it’s jobs or psychological well being. It brings out individuals from all elements of the ward to have fun Memorial Day to allow them to know they’re appreciated.”

This yr’s keynote speaker will probably be retired Colonel Damon Arnold, M.D., M.P.H., CMT. Arnold served for 26 years within the Military Nationwide Guard, because the Commander of the Joint Medical Command and State Surgeon Basic for 12 years. He accomplished 17 over-seas missions to incorporate places in Africa, Central America, South America, Europe, the Center East and Asia. He was awarded the extremely coveted Army Legion of Advantage Medal from President Barack Obama for his achievements. Arnold additionally was awarded three Military Commendation Medals for his wartime deployments to Iraq and Kuwait the place he served because the Officer in Cost of battlefield medical operations. Throughout these deployments he functioned as a mechanized infantry Fight Medic in addition to a certified Flight Surgeon on over 120 area and flight operations. Arnold additionally served as the16th director of the Illinois Division of Public Well being.

The parade ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Marchers will wind via Auburn Gresham from 77th and Emerald with a wreath laying ceremony in entrance of St. Leo’s Residence for Veterans. Additionally participating within the parade are the Chicago Army Academy JROTC/SROTC serving as coloration guard, the Music Field Basis, the Buffalo Troopers ninth & tenth Horse Cavalry, Windy Metropolis Cheer, Barton Elementary College Band, MBM Dance Firm, Keep Lit, Teatro Tariakuri dance, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, The Most Worshipful St. James Grand Lodge and Beatrice Grand Chapter order of Mason/Jap Stars, The Tuskegee Airmen, Triple Nickels 555th, Montford Level Marines, Strike Power and The American Legion.

For extra info, name the seventeenth Ward Service Workplace at 773-783-3672.