DeKalb Times

It's an American tradition to honor the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country with a Memorial Day parade, one that was carried out in communities across Illinois. 

Illinois State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) took part in Huntley's parade on Memorial Day.

"What a tremendous turnout for today's Huntley Memorial Day Parade," Syverson wrote in a May 30 Facebook post. "So many spectators lined up to celebrate. Honoring and remembering our fallen. Happy Memorial Day."

The holiday now known as Memorial Day was initially called Decoration Day, which was first celebrated on May 30, 1968, a few years after the Civil War ended. According to History.com, the day was created "by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic." It was to honor those who died defending the nation "during the late rebellion."

General John A. Logan lived in Illinois. The Journal Courier reported a Decoration Day celebration on April 29, 1866, in Carbondale is thought to be the first county-wide observance of the holiday. At the time 212 veterans from the area took part in the observance. 

The Belleville News Democrat compiled a list of parades and other events that commemorated Memorial Day 2022 in the southwestern part of Illinois.