40th Annual Memorial Day Parade - Monday, May 28, 2007

Amvets Post 243, with the assistance of Rosehill Cemetery, has been in charge of the parade since its inception. Due to dwindling interest and their increasing age, Amvets is considering discontinuing the event. Danny Wenerski has been in charge of the parade which has been a part of our community life for 40 years. We are calling on the Andersonville community to help find participants to march in the parade. We are looking for groups such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Soccer and other sports teams, theater groups, etc. We also have a particular need for music, i.e., marching band, drum and bugle corps, or something.

In addition to the parade, there will be a children’s Bike Decorating Contest and the participants will ride in the parade. The contest will be sponsored and judged by the West Andersonville Neighbors Together (WANT) organization. Be sure to decorate with Red, White, and Blue as the purpose of the parade is to honor and remember all Veterans.

Parade Participants and Bike Decoration entrants assemble at 5739 N. Clark Street at 9:15 a.m. The parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the designated route as Clark to Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr to Ashland, Ashland to Rosehill Drive, then into Rosehill Cemetery. There will be a ceremony at Rosehill following the parade.

Do you remember the parades you attended as a child? There were fire trucks, bands, sports teams, people handing out candy, and the overall excitement of the crowd. This is a critical year for the parade, because if it is discontinued, it will be difficult to get it started again, or to get the required city permits. Businesses can help by decorating their storefronts and advertising the parade and bike contest. This is a treasure for Andersonville and Edgewater. We should not let it wither away. Everyone’s Help Is Needed.