Oswego Legion’s Memorial Day parade to return

Oswego’s Memorial Day parade, sponsored for decades by the Oswego American Legion Post 675, will return to its traditional route at the end of the month and will close out a week of special events in the village honoring active duty troops and veterans.

As approved by the village board during a May 4 meeting, the solemn parade to honor our nation’s war dead will step off at 10 a.m. May 31 from the former Traughber Junior High School at Franklin and Washington streets. The parade will proceed south on Main Street from the village’s downtown and conclude at the Oswego Township Cemetery on south Main Street where a memorial service will be held.

While the Legion conducted a memorial service at the cemetery last year, the parade was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Memorial Day parade and memorial service at the cemetery will come at the end of a week of special events sponsored by the village and the Fox Valley Veterans Breakfast Club. The events will include the arrival of the Middle East Conflicts Wall of Honor, May 21, outside Village Hall at 100 Parkers Mill. An opening ceremony for the wall will be held at 9:30 a.m. May 22.

Other events include a car show from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. May 23 at the former Park-and-Ride site at Orchard and Mill roads, followed by a performance from the Air Force Band May 25 also at the Park-and-Ride, and a concert by the 144th Army Band at 2 p.m. May 29 at Veteran’s Serenity Park along the banks of the Fox River in the village’s downtown.

The Memorial Day parade will help to close out events on May 31, followed by a 3 p.m. closing ceremony for the wall at village hall.