(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Military leaders, U.S. representatives, City of Chicago leadership, veterans, Gold Star Families, and many others gathered in Daley Plaza Saturday, to pay tribute to the nation’s fallen soldiers during a Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony.
Four wreaths are placed near the Eternal Flame, representing those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces, their families, POW/MIA, and the country that the local soldiers had served.
“He passed away in the act of saving lives.”
Melanie Sanchez, is joined by several generations of her family. She is the great-niece of Army Private First Class Thomas Padilla who died while serving in Vietnam.
“He had the option to go back to Mexico, but instead he thought it was honorable to stay here in America and fight for the country that he believed in. And that's why we are here to honor him today,” she said.
At State and Madison streets, following the wreath laying ceremony, the colors were presented as thousands of people lined State Street to pay their respects.
Mercedes Garcia sang the national anthem, which signaled the start of the city’s annual Memorial Day Parade.
Garcia is the niece of the late US Army staff Sergeant Jose Carlos Vega.
Remembrances will continue to be held throughout the area, and the country, this Memorial Day weekend.
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