The crowd cheers on our nation’s heroes during Aurora’s Veterans Day Procession in 2023. This year’s theme is “Tribute to the Heroes Among Us.”
Courtesy of the City of Aurora

The Aurora community will salute the heroes who courageously served our country on Veterans Day and have returned home to continue serving in the community in many ways.

With the theme ‘Tribute to the Heroes Among Us’, the Aurora Veterans Day Procession 2024 starts on Monday, November 11 at 10:15 a.m., immediately followed by the ceremony with keynote speaker Jessica Lynch, in front of the GAR Memorial, 23 E. Downerplaats.

The parade – which disembarks at Benton and Water streets, travels north to Downer Place and then west on Downer Place – features a variety of units, including local veterans organizations, public safety units, community organizations and youth groups.

The parade ends at the GAR Memorial Hall, 23 E. Downer Place, where veterans, parade participants and guests will gather for a tribute ceremony.

A bugler performs during Aurora’s 2023 Veterans Day ceremony.
Courtesy of the City of Aurora

The Veterans Day ceremony will highlight this year’s theme – “Honoring the Heroes Among Us” – with a military salute on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month to commemorate the armistice agreement that ended World War I. military branches, a presentation of Meritorious Service Awards to Aurora veterans, and special remarks from the keynote speaker.

Lynch is a former US Army soldier and former prisoner of war. On March 23, 2003, she was serving as a unit supply specialist with the 507th Maintenance Company when her convoy was ambushed by Iraqi forces. Lynch was seriously injured during the attack and captured by Iraqi soldiers. Ten American soldiers were killed in the ambush. Seven other soldiers were captured and six were subsequently rescued 21 days later.

One of the seven, Lynch’s best friend and battle buddy, PFC Lori Piestewa, suffered a serious head wound and later died in an Iraqi civilian hospital. Lynch’s subsequent recovery by U.S. Special Operations Forces on April 1, 2003 was the first successful rescue of an American POW since World War II and the first ever of a woman. On July 22, 2003, Lynch received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Prisoner of War Medal.

Thank our veterans

Bring the family to the center to personally thank veterans, take a photo with the larger-than-life Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam, and pick up Veterans Day memorabilia.

• Veterans: Visit the tent near the main stage to pick up a portable flag for your military branch, while supplies last.

• Supporters: Stop by the tent before the parade to pick up your special buttons, while supplies last.

Film screening

On Saturday, November 9, the City of Lights Film Festival will host a screening of National Geographic’s “Brothers in War,” written and directed by Liz Reph.

In her 2014 directorial debut, the 90-minute documentary narrated by Charlie Sheen features first-person accounts and digitally remastered archival footage about the harrowing combat experiences of the men of Charlie Company, one of the last American infantry companies to be formed. , trained and sent to fight together in Vietnam. The film was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Historical Programming – Long Form. It is inspired by “The Boys of ’67: Charlie Company’s War in Vietnam” by Andrew Wiest

The screening will take place from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM in the Aurora City Council Chambers, 44 E. Downer Place. It will be followed by a reception from 5:45 PM to 7:00 PM at the Grand Army of the Republic, 23 E. Downer Place. It’s free, but registration is required at www.aurora-il.org.

The Aurora Veterans Advisory Council during the 2023 Veterans Day Procession.
Courtesy of the City of Aurora

The 2023 Aurora Veterans Day Procession will pass through downtown.
Courtesy of the City of Aurora