Parade, Ceremony To Commemorate Memorial Day

The Lake Zurich will hold its annual Memorial Day commemoration Monday.

The event will start with a parade that will depart from the American Legion Hall, 51 Lions Drive, at 10 a.m. and proceed to the Veterans Memorial at 200 Mohawk Trail.

A brief service will then be held at the monument at about 11 a.m. to honor all of those who gave their lives in service of our country.

"Memorial Day is the big event for the American Legion and the VFW," said American Legion Cmdr. Mike Peck. "Memorial Day is a special day. It's a day of remembrance."

Peck said the parade will feature American Legion Post 964, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 11020, the Lake Zurich Lions Club, the Lake Zurich Fire and Police Departments, local Boy Scout troops, and the Lake Zurich High School band.

The ceremony will feature guest speaker Maj. Gen. Jim Mukoyama of Glenview. Mukoyama was the first Asian-American to become a major general. Peck said Mukoyama started his life at an interment camp and eventually came to the United States. He received the Silver Star and Purple Heart in Vietnam.

Peck said the ceremony will also pay special tribute to the 23 service members from Lake County who have died since 9-11 in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A cookout will be held at the American Legion following the ceremony.