Due to the impending inclement weather, the Aurora Veterans Day Parade scheduled for Monday, November 11 has been canceled, and the ceremony portion of the annual event has been moved indoors.
“With the weather forecast calling for snow and wind chill temperatures in the low teens, we want to make sure everyone is safe,” said Mayor Richard C. Irvin. “Many of our parade units consisted of military veterans who are senior citizens and youth performers from area schools. We can’t have them out in the elements for an extended period of time. We also don’t want to miss the opportunity to honor our veterans for their service and sacrifice. Now, we can do so in a warm, comfortable environment.”
The Veterans Day Ceremony will begin at 10:15 a.m. at Aurora City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place. Doors will open at 9:45 a.m.
The ceremony will feature remarks by United States Army veteran Mayor Richard C. Irvin, a roll call of local veterans’ organizations, special tributes to veterans by community members and a keynote address by Aurora grad and former United States Navy pilot Rudy Rodriguez.
Priority seating will be given to veterans and their families. The ceremony will be streamed on the City of Aurora’s Facebook page, which can also be viewed on www.aurora-il.org.
Immediately following the ceremony, guests are invited to the Aurora Historical Society, 20 E. Downer Place, for free coffee and donuts and a book signing by author and Aurora native Brent Peterson with his new book, Once Upon A Lifetime, The Epic True Story of Corporal William Wesley Bennett, USMC. Peterson will also speak during the ceremony at City Hall.
— City of Aurora government