Army Veteran To Lead Aurora Memorial Day Parade As Grand Marshal

AURORA, IL — A longtime Aurora resident and U.S. Army veteran will lead the city's annual Memorial Day parade on Monday as grand marshal.

The procession will commemorate the 157th anniversary of Memorial Day. It's set to begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the intersection of Benton and River streets.

Arlen Peterson, 89, has lived in Aurora for more than 60 years and served in the Army from 1954-1955. Following his military career, he worked as a postal carrier and air traffic controller before shifting his focus to ministry, when he served as a leader at Wayside Cross Ministries and the former Claim Street Baptist Church.

Peterson is now in remission after defeating an aggressive form of kidney cancer, city officials said.

The parade will feature local veteran groups and military organizations, including Roosevelt Aurora American Legion Post 84, Fox Valley Marines Detachment No. 1233, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Commission and the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council.

Marching bands will be comprised of musicians from East Aurora High School, West Aurora High School, Waubonsie Valley High School, Scullen Middle School and Fischer Middle School. The Aurora Roosevelt American Legion Band will also perform.

Floats will be decorated by returning crowd favorites: the 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 and Diamond Dance Academy.