The City of Aurora will celebrate the 157th anniversary of Memorial Day during the 2025 Aurora Memorial Day Parade, which will step off at the intersection of Benton Street and River Street at 10am on Monday, May 26.
Longtime community member and U.S. Army veteran, Arlen Peterson, will serve as the Parade’s Grand Marshal. Peterson has lived in Aurora for over 60 years, and served in Germany as a member of the U.S. Army from 1954-1955. Following his military career, he served the community through his work as a postal carrier and air traffic controller before shifting his focus to ministry. He has spent years giving back to Aurora through his time as a leader at Wayside Cross Ministries and the former Claim Street Baptist Church. Now, at 89 years old, Peterson recently defeated an aggressive form of kidney cancer and is now in remission.
The Parade will also feature local veteran groups and military organizations, including the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council, Roosevelt Aurora American Legion Post 84, Fox Valley Marines Detachment #1233, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Commission.
Marching bands will fill the parade with music from Aurora’s talented youth at East Aurora High School, West Aurora High School, Waubonsie Valley High School, Scullen Middle School, and Fischer Middle School, along with the Aurora Roosevelt American Legion Band.
Other crowd favorites, such as the electrifying 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 Dancw Academy will help to energize Aurora for this 157th anniversary of Memorial Day.
Attendees can enjoy the comfort of free parking available throughout downtown Aurora. Visitors are encouraged to arrive before 9:30 A.M. to provide enough time for parking and viewing preparation on the parade route.
