A Memorial Day Parade

Saturday afternoon we went downtown to watch the Chicago Memorial Day Parade, supposedly the largest Memorial Day parade in the nation.  It was a long one - 2 hours long - but a really good one.  The place we chose to stand put us right across from the Mayor's viewing platform, so we got an up-close view of the new mayor, Rahm Emanuel.  He was joined by the Grand Marshal of the parade, General Ray Odierno, Commander of the United States Joint Forces Command. (We knew him as the guy who shaved Stephen Colbert's head on The Colbert Report.)

Presenting the Colors

U.S. Cavalry

After waiting about 30 minutes for the parade to start, Oliver promptly fell asleep as the parade began.  He slept through the police sirens, firetruck horns, drum and bugle corps, and several marching bands. How he did that, we're not sure. Kids are amazing that way.  Once he woke up he really liked the parade.

Waving the Flag

Enjoying a break in the action

I got weepy-eyed many times during the parade, especially during the swearing-in of a group of young recruits. They were marching in the parade and stopped in front of the Mayor's stand and were sworn in by General Odierno.  It was a pretty powerful moment.  As we go about our daily lives it's so easy to forget that there are people who choose to fight so that we might live the lives that we do.  Going to see this parade was a good reminder of the sacrifices being made for us.

Singing in the rain

The weather was getting a little iffy towards the end, but the rain did hold off until after the parade had finished.  Once the rain started it didn't want to quit, but Oliver was more than happy to hold the umbrella as we went on our way.