Historic West Side Memorial Day Parade marches for a 99th year, looks forward to 100
SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- Memorial Day events marched through several Michiana streets on Monday, but one South Bend tradition that honors local veterans each year is almost a hundred years old!
The South Bend West Side Memorial Day Parade is a fan favorite, and had its 99th run this Memorial Day.
Beyond the extravagant floats and American Flag decor you see at the parade, the historic parade honors the veterans that make it all possible.
For many, setting up a lawn chair and watching as the floats, walkers, and marching bands of the West Side Memorial Day Parade march down Ford Street is their way of honoring what Memorial Day is all about.
"I have family who is in the military, my granddad and cousins and stuff," says Wanda Love, who attended the West Side Memorial Day Parade.
"My brothers are veterans, and my father was a vet, so I came out to celebrate," says another spectator of the parade, Pearl Snowden.
The longstanding tradition of the West Side Memorial Day parade showcases the west side's dedication to commemorating our local veterans.
"It is really one of, I think, one of the best traditions in South Bend," says Carrie Pickens, West Side Memorial Day Parade Marshal. "It really highlights the melting pot that the West Side is."
The most integral part of the parade is where it all ends, at Saint Joseph Cemetery.
The names of 482 Saint Joseph County veterans who died in the last year were read aloud.
"They served our country, they gave their lives for us, and they deserve to be honored," says the Supervisor of St. Joseph Funeral Home and Cemetery, Julie Manor.
Manor says it's important to remember that those veterans are the reason why we are able to even have a parade every year, or simply enjoy a long weekend at home with family and loved ones.
"The importance of Memorial Day is to remember what it's about," says Manor. "It's not just about cookouts and things, it's about honoring those who have fought for our right to be free and have the choices we get to make."
Planning for next year's Memorial Day parade is already in the works!
Parade committee members say the 100-year milestone of the West Side Memorial Day parade will be a special version of the beloved South Bend tradition.
"We want to do some big mailer, we want to bring back the yard signs, we're going to have something similar to Notre Dame how they have the t-shirt every year, we're going to have the West Side Parade shirt. We're going to do an online store. We're still in the early stages of that, but we want to make sure it's big," explains Katie Gondocs, West Side Memorial Day Parade Co-Marshal
If you're interested in being a part of the 100th West Side Memorial Day parade next year, organizers say it's never too late, and it's as easy as reaching out to them through their Facebook page. They'll start having meetings for the next parade in January.