AURORA MEMORIAL DAY PARADE: REMEMBRANCE & RESPECT

Aurora will celebrate the 155th anniversary of Memorial Day during the 2023 Aurora Memorial Day Parade. The parade is held in honor of the brave men and women who paid the ultimate price and gave their lives for our country. 

With the theme, “Remembrance and Respect,” the parade will step off at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29, 2023, from the intersection of Benton and River Streets, head east on Benton, north on Broadway, west on Downer Place and ending at River Street. 

The pre-parade program will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the reviewing stand in front of the Aurora GAR Memorial Hall and Museum, 23 E. Downer Place. 

PARADE GRAND MARSHAL

The 2023 Grand Marshal, Dr. Brian Caputo, president of the College of DuPage, will lead the parade.

A longtime Aurora resident, he is a renowned leader with decades of senior-level experience in higher education, local government, and the military. Dr. Caputo retired from the United States Army Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel after more than 22 years of active and reserve military service. In 2020, Crain’s Chicago Business recognized Dr. Caputo as a Notable Veteran Executive.  

Dr. Caputo holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point, an M.S. in Accountancy from DePaul University, and an M.P.A. from Northern Illinois University (NIU). He earned a Ph.D. from NIU with fields of study in public administration, public policy, and government finance. For 19 years, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Aurora before he began his career at the College of DuPage. 

The Grand Marshal’s Reception will be held before the parade from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the G.A.R. Military Museum, 23 E. Downer Place. 

PARADE UNITS

The 2023 Memorial Day Parade will feature local veteran groups and military organizations, including the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council, Roosevelt Aurora American Legion Post 84, Waidley VFW #468, Fox Valley Marines Detachment #1233, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the G.A.R. Memorial Commission. 

Marching bands will fill the parade with music from our talented youth at East Aurora High School, West Aurora High School, Waubonsie Valley High School, Fischer Middle School, and Still Middle School, along with the Aurora Roosevelt American Legion Band.

Other crowd favorites such as the electrifying South Shore Drill Team, the Lamplighters Barbershop Chorus, Costumers with a Cause, the Phillips Park Zoo, the Aurora Public Library’s Bookmobile, the East Aurora NJROTC, the West Aurora High School Cheer Team, Simply Destinee Dance Team, and so many more units, will help to energize Aurora for the 155th anniversary of Memorial Day.

Free parking is available in downtown. Visitors are encouraged to arrive before 9:30 a.m. to provide enough time for parking and viewing preparation on the parade route.