The annual Memorial Day parade and program in DeKalb will honor military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.
Both the parade and program will be held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.
The parade is returning after a two-year pause in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidance. It steps off at 9 a.m. at North Third and Locust Street and will have a slightly different route this year. The parade will go west down Locust Street before turning north on Linden Place and ending at Augusta Avenue.
The DeKalb Police and Fire Departments will be joined for the parade by local veterans’ organizations, the DeKalb High School Marching Barbs, the Huntley Middle School/Clinton Rosette Middle School Band, the Cub and Boy Scouts, Dimensions Dance Academy and more.
The parade is followed by the Memorial Day program on the Ellwood House lawn at 9:30 a.m.
A full slate of speakers and music is planned for the program. The keynote speaker will be DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes, a US Army veteran. Musical numbers will be performed by the DeKalb High School Varsity Treble Choir, Terri Crain Goodman, Ron Lofton, Mark Baldin, Michael Embry and the Firefighter Highland Guard of DeKalb.
Following the program, free first-floor tours of the Ellwood Mansion will be offered.
The Memorial Day activities are a collaboration of the City of DeKalb, DeKalb Park District and Ellwood House Museum.