Flags are placed in the 2025 Field of the Fallen in Cary. This year’s display returns May 22-25. | Claire O’Brien for Shaw Local News Network, May 23, 2025
Daily Herald report
Memorial Day is Monday, May 25. Memorial Day parades, services and observances throughout the suburbs will pay tribute to those U.S. military personnel who gave their lives in service of their country.
Friday, May 22
Cary’s Field of the Fallen: Opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, and closing ceremony at 5 p.m. Monday, May 25, on Three Oaks and Georgetown roads, Cary. Join the Veterans Network Committee of Northern Illinois as they honor Illinois soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Featuring flags, one each bearing a soldier’s name, date of death, and age starting from the Gulf conflict. Honor Illinois’s fallen heroes by standing watch, volunteering, or simply visiting. Names will be read aloud every hour. facebook.com/veteransnetwork/.
Saturday, May 23
SALUTE Inc. Honor & Remember pancake breakfast: 8:45-11 a.m. Saturday, May 23, at Arlington Heights American Legion Post 208, 121 N. Douglas Ave. This year, they are flipping the script on the annual Memorial Day run and trading in the sweat for sweets. Join opening ceremony at 8:45 a.m. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice, coffee and more. Sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion Merle Guild Post 208. $15 for age 13 or older, $10 for age 12 or under. Tickets at the door (cash preferred) or via saluteinc.org
Sunday, May 24
Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores Memorial 5K: 8 a.m. Sunday, May 24, at the Market Place Shopping Center, 5035-5075 Market Place Road, Lake Barrington. Starts with a brief veteran-led ceremony of remembrance prior to the running of the 5K race through the Lake Barrington Shores community. $50; $25 for active duty, reserve, veteran, police and fire personnel. memorial5k.com
Monday, May 25
Barrington Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony: 10:30 a.m. to noon Monday, May 25. The parade steps off from the Veterans Memorial on Park Avenue, proceeds west on Main Street, left on Dundee Avenue, and right into Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington. The ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery will begin after the parade. barrington-il.gov
Carpentersville Memorial Day ceremony: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at the Veterans War Memorial at Carpenter Park, 275 Maple Ave., Carpentersville. The community is invited to reflect, remember, and pay tribute. facebook.com/VillageOfCarpentersville.
Cary Memorial Day parade and ceremony: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25. Hosted by Cary-Grove AMVETS Post 245. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, First Street and Three Oaks Road, and proceeds south on First Street from Three Oaks Road to Park Avenue. The parade will be followed by a ceremony at Veteran’s Park, Route 14 at Crystal Street. caryillinois.com.
Hoffman Estates-Schaumburg Memorial Day Observance: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at the Veterans Memorial outside the police department, 411 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Immediately following the lowering of the flag in Hoffman Estates, the observance will move to Schaumburg for a 10:45 a.m. ceremony at the St. Peter Lutheran, 202 E. Schaumburg Road. Weather permitting, hot dogs and refreshments will be served at the Picnic Grove at St. Peter Church. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating on the grounds in Schaumburg. hoffmanestates.org
Kids on the Big Waters Federation float of the Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade wave to attendees at last year’s parade. | Sofía Oyarzún/soyarzún@dailyherald.com, 2025
Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony: 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 25. 107th annual parade steps off at Arlington Heights Road and Sigwalt Street, heads west to Dunton, north on Dunton, west on Euclid Avenue, south on Fremont Street to Memorial Park on Chestnut Avenue. At 11 a.m., the ceremony honors and remembers all those who have given their lives for our freedoms, especially Arlington’s Fallen Heroes — the 68 residents who died in the service to the nation from the Civil War through Afghanistan. Also, a list of names of veterans who have passed away in the preceding 12 months will be read. Hosted by the American Legion and Arlington Heights Veterans Memorial Committee. vah.com or arlingtonheightsamericanlegion.org
Algonquin Memorial Day ceremony: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Riverfront Park, 201 N. Harrison St., Algonquin. Join the American Legion in remembrance of those who gave their lives for our freedom. The ceremony will include speakers, color guard and the local high school band. algonquin.org.
Bartlett Memorial Day Walk and Remembrance: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Bartlett Park, Oak and North avenues. It begins with an American Legion flag retirement ceremony. At 10:30 a.m. veterans, Scouts, civic groups, bagpipers and residents line up for the walk to Bartlett Cemetery, which steps off at 11 a.m. At the cemetery, the remembrance continues with the posting of the colors and an invocation. bartlettil.gov
The Fremd High School marching band plays during a previous Memorial Day ceremony in Palatine’s Community Park. This year’s event takes place Monday, May 25. | Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com, 2024
Palatine American Legion Memorial Day Parade and Program: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Hillside Cemetery on Smith Street in Palatine. The parade, featuring the color guards, Little Miss Poppy, police and fire, and the Fremd marching band, steps off at 10:15 a.m. at Cornell Avenue and Smith Street, and proceeds north on Smith Street, east on Robertson Street, south on Brockway Street and east on Wood Street to the Veterans Memorial in Community Park for a short program at 11 a.m., with another ceremony at 12:15 p.m. at the Legion Memorial in Towne Square, 150 W. Palatine Road, followed by a final ceremony at Union Cemetery at 72-74 Greeley St. alpost690.us.
Wauconda Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Homer T. Cook Memorial Park, 600 N. Main St. Hosted by American Legion Post 911, celebrating its 75th year. The parade heads south on Main Street and ends at Route 176. Main Street closes for vehicle traffic at 9:15 a.m. Memorial Day remembrance ceremony follows at noon at Memorial Park, Route 176 and Main Street. alpost911.org
Cary Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: 10:15 a.m. Monday, May 25. Starting on First Street to Three Oaks Road and Park Avenue, ending at Veterans Park, Route 14 at Crystal Street. Hosted by AMVETS Post 245. CaryIllinois.com.
Catholic Cemeteries Field Masses: 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, at 21 cemeteries throughout Cook and Lake counties. Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago will observe Memorial Day. Active members of the military and veterans will receive a special blessing during the liturgies followed by the playing of taps. Participating cemeteries include: All Saints, 700 N. River Road, Des Plaines; Ascension, 1920 Buckley Road, Libertyville; Calvary, 301 Chicago Ave., Evanston; Maryhill, 8600 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles; St. Adalbert, 6800 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles; and St. Michael the Archangel, 1185 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Free. catholiccemeterieschicago.org/memorial-day.
Last year’s Lake Zurich Memorial Day Remembrance ceremony. This year’s event will take place Monday, May 25, at the Lake Zurich Veterans Memorial following the parade. | Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com, 2025
Lake Zurich Memorial Day Parade: 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, stepping off at the American Legion Lake Zurich Post 964, 51 Lions Drive, Lake Zurich. The parade will end at the Veterans Memorial by the police station, 200 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. lakezurich.org
Buffalo Grove Memorial Day service: 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Veterans Park, 1300 Weiland Road, Buffalo Grove. Organized by Kingswood United Methodist Church. There will be special readings, music and a flag ceremony by Scout Troop 401. vbg.org
Crystal Lake Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: 11 a.m. Monday, May 25. Parade starts at Central High School and runs east on Franklin Avenue, north on Williams Street, and west on Woodstock Street to Union Cemetery for a memorial service. crystallake.org
Elgin Memorial Day service: 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd., Elgin. Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute, and the playing of taps at 8:45 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, 1001 Villa St.; ceremony with combined color guard, a rifle salute and the playing of taps at 9:15 a.m. at Lakewood Memorial Park, 30W730 Route 20. At 9:45 a.m., Elgin Navy Club and the Elgin Marine Corps League program, designed to pay tribute to veterans interred at sea, strewing of flowers into the Fox River, rifle salute, and the playing of taps at Elgin Veterans Memorial Park, 270 N. Grove Ave. At 11 a.m., ceremony will pay tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States. Keynote speaker will be Christine Harmon, Daughters of the American Revolution. Also features the Elgin Master Chorale and a high school band; students with the Fox Valley Young Marines will read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and General John Logan’s Orders establishing Memorial Day. A free shuttle bus will pick up riders at the main gate and east gate before and after. Co-sponsored by the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association and the city of Elgin. elginmemorialday.org.
Memorial Day trolley rides: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 25, at Fox River Trolley Museum, 365 S. La Fox St., South Elgin. Last train leaves between 4 and 4:15 p.m. $10, $8 for age 62 or older, veterans and first responders; $5 for age 3-11; free for age 2 or under. foxtrolley.org.
Dundee Memorial Day ceremony: 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, at River Valley Memorial Gardens, 14N689 Route 31, West Dundee. They will be placing flags for veterans on Friday, May 22, starting at 9 a.m. going until all flags are placed. To volunteer, call the office at (847) 426-3031. rivervalleymemorialgardens.com.
Lake in the Hills annual Memorial Day Pig Roast: 1 p.m. Monday, May 25, American Legion Post 1231, 1101 W. Algonquin Road, Lake in the Hills. facebook.com/alpost1231.
More ceremonies can be found here.
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