News and events for Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood
A vintage Chicago police car leads marchers at the start of the Memorial Day parade on May 28, 2018.
A vintage Chicago police car leads marchers at the start of the Memorial Day parade on May 28, 2018.

The McKinley Park neighborhood celebrated Memorial Day 2018 with its annual parade through the neighborhood and a ceremony honoring veterans, all organized by the McKinley Park Civic Association, the neighborhood's longest-serving community organization. Marchers began at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 28, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library and wound through the neighborhood to the William McKinley American Legion Post 231 for a ceremony to honor veterans.

Many organizations participated in the parade as marchers, including a number of new groups this year, on a Memorial Day marked by ideal weather. Vintage cars joined the parade, including an antique Chicago police car, thanks to connections through Beat 912 of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS).

Participants in the parade and ceremony included the Chicago Police Department; the Chicago Fire Department; the color guard from William McKinley American Legion Post 231; the Horizon Science Academy marching band; Illinois 2nd District State Representative Theresa Mah; 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas; Cook County 7th District Commissioner and Congressional candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia; representatives from Illinois State Senator Tony Muñoz's office, including Attorney Hector Rodriguez; the 12th Ward Independent Political Organization; Bethany Baptist Church; St. Andrew Lutheran Church; the Omega Delta Youth Baseball and Softball League; the McKinley Park Farmers Market; the McKinley Community Play Garden; Evergreen Academy Middle School; CAPS Beat 912; Boy Scout Troop 415; Cub Scout Pack 3415; Blessed Sacrament Parish; and Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center.

This publication would like to thank the McKinley Park Civic Association and Omega Delta Youth Baseball and Softball League for providing the photographs accompanying this article.


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