Aurora Memorial Day Parade: Find Out Grand Marshal, Start Time

AURORA, IL — Aurora will celebrate Memorial Day with its annual parade May 25.

Longtime community member and U.S. Marine Corps veteran James "Jim" Butler will serve as the grand marshal for the parade, set to step off at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Benton Street and River Street.

Butler joined the Marine Corps in 1959, serving in Okinawa, Japan, with the Third Recon Battalion. After four years of active-duty service and two years in the reserves, Butler returned home in 1963, married his wife, Rosemarie, and had six children. From 1963 until his retirement in 2012, he worked for the John Sexton Company, starting as a laborer and ending his tenure as the company's general manager.

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

Local marching bands will provide the musical accompaniment, with participation from the Aurora Roosevelt American Legion Band as well as students from East Aurora High School, West Aurora High School, Metea Valley High School, Granger Middle School Hill Elementary School.

Parade-goers will be able to park for free across downtown Aurora. City officials recommended guests arrive before 9:30 a.m. to have enough time to find parking and a viewing spot.