98th annual West Side Memorial Day parade held

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The rain didn't stop a hundred to thousands of people gathering along the streets of the westside of South Bend to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have honored their country by making the ultimate sacrifice.

The 98th annual South Bend West Side Memorial Day parade, a tradition spanning almost a century, honored fallen veterans with this year's theme "Lest We Forget."

The parade showcased 58 entries, including dancing floats, marching bands, and active and retired veterans marching along the 1.7-mile route, beginning at Lombardy and Ford Street.

Last year marked the parade's return after a hiatus due to the pandemic and volunteer shortages.

After the parade, a memorial service took place at the St. Joseph Cemetery in South Bend.

It included a Catholic mass followed by military honors and the reading of the names of deceased veterans in St. Joseph County for the year.

More than 400 names were remembered.