Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Cpl. Jim Morsovillo was grand marshal of Aurora’s Memorial Day parade. He served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a combat radio officer during the Vietnam War.
By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com
AURORA — The flags were flying and the sun was shining as thousands of Aurorans turned out to watch the annual Memorial Day parade in Aurora, honoring those who have served in the armed forces.
The parade started at noon from River and Benton streets, where the new public library project served as a backdrop to the staging area. A seemingly endless stretch of parade participants snaked down River Street, preparing for their turn in heading into the parade route east to Broadway Avenue.
A pre-parade ceremony titled “In Memory of Many . . . In Honor of All” was presented at the reviewing stand outside the David L. Pierce Art and History Center on Downer Place.
The East Aurora High School NJROTC honor guard presented the colors at the ceremony, Roosevelt American Legion Post 84 trumpeter Tim Cooper emotionally performed “To the Colors,” and World War II veteran Don Thompson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sheridan Archbold, an award-winning 12-year-old opera and classical crossover tenor performed the National Anthem before the parade kicked off at noon.
“This is Americana. It’s just fun being out here,” said Theresa Jones, who traveled from Niles to view the parade with relatives. “The kids are running around, there’s great music, great food . . . it’s a great parade that Aurora puts on, it’s great fun, and we like to thank our veterans.”
The parade turned north to Downer Place and wound through downtown before concluding at River Street.
Leading the parade was Grand Marshall Cpl. Jim Morsovillo, who served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a combat radio officer at Khe Sanh during the Vietnam War, and now serves as a volunteer for veterans’ causes.
Morsovillo sits on the board of Operation Welcome You Home, founded by his wife, Donna. The organization sponsors several activities for veterans and active military personnel, including send-offs for military members headed overseas, parades and other special events, flag lines honoring fallen soldiers at funeral homes, motorcycle ride fundraisers, and welcome home parties for veterans returning from tours of duty. Last year, the organization brought together more than 250 motorcyclists to help escort the Moving Wall into Aurora.
Morsovillo, an Aurora resident of 17 years, is also active in several other veterans’ organizations, including the Fox Valley Marines, the VFW, the American Legion, the Combat Veterans Association, and veterans’ motorcycle clubs including the American Legion Riders and the Leatherneck Riding Club.
The parade also boasted six marching bands, from schools including Waubonsee Valley, East Aurora, and West Aurora high schools; and Fischer, Still and Waldo Middle Schools.
“We’re enjoying the parade very much,” said Elliot Thompson, an Aurora resident who watched the event from Benton Street. He said they staked out their prime spot about an hour before the parade started. “Get here early, get a great spot. It’s a lot of fun and especially fun when the weather is great like today.”
Other groups and parade appearances included the Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84, AmVets Post 103, Fox Valley Marines, Waidley VFW Post 468, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Core — Aurora Division, Chicago Highland Rifles bagpipers, the 8th Illinois Calvary, the Aurora Area Shriners Club, the Medina Motor Corp, and the Tebala Shrine Big Wheels.