Your guide to 2023 Veterans Day activities in the Peoria area

Josh Jenke, Peoria Journal Star
·2 min read

The public is invited to several Peoria-area events on and around Veterans Day, which is Saturday, including the annual parade in Peoria.

Friday's events

Pekin

  • 9:00 a.m. in the gymnasium of Pekin Community High School, 1903 Court St. Pekin's Veteran's Day program will feature guest speaker, Col. Dan Maeder, a native of Richland and a 1987 graduate of Pekin Community School District. Program will be preceded by coffee and refreshments at 8 a.m.

Canton

  • 9:30 a.m. in the south gymnasium of Canton High School, 1001 N. Main St., Canton Union School District’s Veterans Day Celebration will include a keynote presentation featuring U.S. Brigadier General, and CHS Class of 1983 Alumni, Marty Green, as well as performances by the CHS band, chorus and students of Canton High School. All veterans and their families are invited to a breakfast and social starting at 8 a.m. in the school cafeteria.

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Peoria

  • 10:30 a.m. at Concordia Lutheran School, 2000 W. Glen Ave., the annual Veterans' Day Assembly will feature a guest speaker speaking about their experience in the services, American Legion Post 2 performing a flag folding ceremony, an opportunity to recognize our veterans and musical performances by Concordia students.

Marquette Heights

  • 1:15 p.m. in the gymnasium at Georgetowne Middle School, 51 Yates Road. North Pekin/Marquette Heights District 102 program will include chorus and band performances, speeches, poems and a roll call of veterans. Program will be preceded by a coffee and cake social at 12:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

Saturday's events

Peoria

  • 10 a.m. Peoria’s annual Veterans Day Parade kicks off at William Kumpf Blvd. and Monroe Street in Downtown Peoria. The parade will continue on Adams Street, then will turn left towards Hamilton Blvd. and conclude at the World War I and World War II monuments at the Peoria County Courthouse. The parade will be followed by a program featuring a speaker, prayers and a rifle salute.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Veterans Day 2023: Activities, parade, events in Peoria area