Richard (Dick) Miller will serve as grand marshal of Aurora’s 2024 Memorial Day Parade. (City of Aurora photo)

The city of Aurora will salute a World War II U.S. Navy veteran as it marks the 156th anniversary of Memorial Day on Monday, May 27 with a parade and other events. 

With the theme “Remembrance and Respect,” marchers and parade-goers will honor the men and women who paid the ultimate price and gave their lives for our country.  

The parade steps off at 10 a.m. at Benton and River streets. It will head east on Benton, north on Broadway, west on Downer Place and end at River.  

A reviewing stand will be located in front of the G.A.R. Memorial Museum, 23 E. Downer Place.  

Leading the parade as the 2024 Grand Marshal will be World War II veteran and Aurora icon Richard (Dick) Miller. 

Born in Aurora on June 26, 1926, Miller attended St. Paul School and East Aurora High School. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944.  

He was stationed in Pearl Harbor before being deployed on the destroyer ship U.S.S. Drexler, which headed for the staging area for the Battle of Okinawa, the bloodiest battle of the war in the Pacific.

The invasion began on April 1, 1945, and on May 28, 1945, the Drexler was destroyed after kamikaze

Miller during his time in the Navy

planes crashed into it.  

“I was a spotter for Japanese kamikaze planes,” Miller said. “We were hit twice, and the second one blew our ship to pieces and propelled us into the ocean.” 

Nearly 160 people on board were killed, and another 52 were wounded, including Miller.  

Keeping himself afloat by holding onto an empty canister, he spent a couple of hours in the water with black oil splashing into his eyes, nose, and mouth. Swallowing it could have been fatal. A pilot searching for survivors eventually rescued him, and he was transported to a hospital in Pearl Harbor.  

The war in the Pacific ended while he was recovering. Miller was discharged in April 1946 and returned home to Illinois and joined the Navy Reserve for an additional five years.  

Like so many heroes of the Greatest Generation, he settled into quiet civilian life after the war. He married his high school sweetheart and began a three-decades-long career at the U.S. Post Office. He and his late wife, Dorothy, raised two children and have two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  

At nearly 98, Miller is still active in veterans’ causes in the community and frequently speaks at local schools and civic groups about his experiences. 

Guests can greet Miller before the parade during the Grand Marshal’s Reception at 9 a.m. at the G.A.R. Military Museum. 

The 2024 Memorial Day Parade will also feature local veteran groups and military organizations, including the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council, Roosevelt Aurora American Legion Post 84, Waidley V.F.W. #468, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the G.A.R. Memorial Commission.  

Marching bands will fill the parade with music from talented youth at East Aurora High School, West Aurora High School, Metea Valley High School Marching Band, Granger Middle School, Hill Middle School Marching Band, and Still Middle School, along with the Aurora Roosevelt American Legion Band. 

Other crowd favorites such as the electrifying South Shore Drill Team, the Lamplighters Barbershop Chorus, Costumers with a Cause, the Phillips Park Zoo, the Aurora Public Library’s Bookmobile, the East Aurora NJROTC, the West Aurora High School Cheer Team, and the Simply Destinee Dance Team will help to energize Aurora. 

There is no cost to view the parade and more than 8,000 people are expected to attend.