Drive-by Memorial Day Commemoration Planned In Arlington Heights,IL. -Each Memorial Day, our community gathers at Memorial Park, after the Memorial Day Parade, to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and active duty personnel – especially those who have given their lives for our country.
Arlington Heights’ commemoration of Memorial Day, among the largest remembrance events in the suburbs, will not feature a parade and in-person ceremony for the second consecutive year, but will be marked in different ways.
Residents are invited to take part in a drive-by ceremony from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Memorial Day, May 31, at Memorial Park. Mayor Tom Hayes, Greg Padovani, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights, and a number of other people will be there to salute cars as they go by. Commemorative wreaths honoring 58 young men from arlington heights who gave their life in service to the nation.
Greg Padovani, a former trustee on the Arlington Heights Village Board, returned to the government body Monday night to announce plans for May 31. The chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights said the parade and outdoor ceremony typically held annually had to be canceled once again due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Padovani announced three ways in which Memorial Day is being observed this year:
- More than 2,000 “Arlington Remember” signs have already been distributed throughout Arlington Heights for memorial of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. Padovani said the committee is asking residents to place them in their windows. The backside of the signs includes the names of the 58 men from Arlington Heights who died serving the United States in battle from the Civil War through the War in Afghanistan. He said this year marks the 102nd Memorial Day observation in Arlington Heights. “These signs are seen around town by the families of the fallen heroes,” Padovani said. “They’re still here and it means so much to them.” Signs can be found at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, at Village Hall and at the Arlington Heights Park District Ridge Center.
- Like in 2020, a pre-recorded Memorial Day ceremony was recently produced. Padovani said it will be broadcast starting next week on the Village’s cable-TV channels, YouTube and the Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights website. As part of the ceremony, he said 127 veterans who died in the last year from Arlington Heights will also be honored.
- Residents are invited to take part in a drive-by ceremony from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Memorial Day, May 31, at Memorial Park. Mayor Tom Hayes, Padovani and a number of other people will be there to salute cars as they go by. Commemorative wreaths for the 58 deceased will be placed along the route on the curb for a “moving site” to remember the fallen.
“One of the important things to remember is that this sign is seen by a lot of the members of the families of these fallen heroes. A lot of them are still here and this means so much to them to see this sign in your windows,” Padovani said. “Pick up one of these signs, put it in your window, but make sure you take a look at the back and look at those names. Those are the names that make Memorial Day what we really think about that day.”
Have a Memorable Memorial Day Weekend
Today is the day to thank all those who brightened our lives with happiness and freedom. Let us bow our heads and remember the sacrifices of the soldiers.
Best Wishes, Omni Dental Family
Author: Dr. Poles
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