The city hosted a wreath laying ceremony followed by a parade in the Loop to honor fallen soldiers and their families for Memorial Day, which is observed Monday.
Despite the often celebratory nature of Memorial Day, Rear Admiral Zeita Merchant reminded the hundreds gathered outside the Daley Center downtown that it’s a solemn day of observance for families and friends of armed service members who lost their lives defending the country.
Merchant, who was born in Chicago and also served as the parade’s grand marshal, made history last month as the first African American woman to attain the rank of admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard. Merchant said remembering and repeating the stories of soldiers is an “acknowledgement and appreciation for their bravery.”
“That empty chair, pictures that never get updated as if they’re frozen in time,” said Harris, a survivor outreach services coordinator. “Forever a memory that seems like yesterday.”
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