Aurora will honor Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11, with a parade and a ceremony featuring a keynote speech from former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch.
With the theme “Honoring the Heroes Among Us,” the Aurora Veterans Day Parade will feature a variety of units, including local veterans’ organizations, public safety units, community organizations and youth groups, according to a press release from the city of Aurora.
The parade will begin at 10:15 a.m. at Benton and Water streets, travel north to Downer Place, and then west on Downer Place to the GAR Memorial Hall, 23 E. Downer Place, where veterans, parade participants and guests will convene for a tribute ceremony.
The ceremony will feature a military salute on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to commemorate the armistice agreement that ended World War 1, a roll-call of military branches, a presentation of awards of meritorious service to Aurora veterans and special remarks from keynote speaker Jessica Lynch.
Lynch is a former U.S. Army private first class and a former prisoner of war. On March 23, 2003, she was serving as a unit supply specialist with the 507th Maintenance Company when her convoy was ambushed by Iraqi troops, according to the press release.
She was seriously injured during the attack and taken prisoner by Iraqi soldiers. Ten U.S. soldiers were killed in the ambush. Seven other soldiers were captured and six subsequently rescued 21 days later. One of the seven, Lynch’s best friend Pvt. First Class Lori Piestewa, received a serious head wound and later died in an Iraqi civilian hospital, the release said.
Lynch’s subsequent recovery by U.S. Special Operations Forces on April 1, 2003, was the first successful rescue of an American prisoner of war since World War II, according to the release.
On July 22, 2003, Lynch was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Prisoner of War Medal, officials said.
