Along with annual Memorial Day parades and observances, many communities also have permanent monuments and plazas saluting the nation’s fallen like this one in downtown Oswego. (Photo by Jack McCarthy / Chronicle Media)

The observance of Memorial Day, which dates back to post-Civil War days, is both somber and celebratory.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day and observed on May 30, was switched by Congress in 1971 to the fourth Monday in May to create a three-day weekend holiday.

It’s still a day of parades, speeches and remembrances of the nation’s war dead. But it has also evolved into a day saluting all veterans as well as a perfect time for family gatherings and outdoor cookouts.

It typically falls at the end of the school year, so Memorial Day also serves as an unofficial kickoff to summer.

Here’s a rundown of west and northwest suburban Memorial Day parades and services:

Aurora

Memorial Day Parade, noon, May 27.  The City of Aurora’s annual Memorial Day Parade will begin at the intersection of Benton and River, head east on Benton, north on Broadway, west on Downer Place and end at River Street.

Barrington

Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony, 10:30 a.m., May 27.  The Memorial Day Parade steps off at Park Ave. and proceed to Evergreen Cemetery for a Remembrance Ceremony.

Crystal Lake

Memorial Day Parade and Cemetery Service, 10 a.m., May 27.  The Crystal Lake American Legion Post will conduct its annual Memorial Day Parade and Cemetery Service. The parade route will head east on Franklin Avenue, north on Williams Street, and west on Woodstock Street to Union Cemetery, where the Memorial Service will be held.

DeKalb

Memorial Day Parade and Program, 9 a.m., May 27.  The Memorial Day Parade will begin at North Third Street and Lincoln Highway and end at the Ellwood House, 509 N. First St. There will be a ceremony on grounds of Ellwood Museum.

Elburn

Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, 10 a.m., May 27. The annual Memorial Day Parade begins at Lions Park and ends at Blackberry Township Cemetery.  A ceremony will follow that includes the reading of “Flanders Field” and the reading of the names of local veterans buried in the area.

Elgin

Memorial Day Activities, Monday, May 27.  Memorial Day activities will begin at 8:45 a.m. with a Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute, and the playing of Taps at Mount Hope Cemetery, 1001 Villa St.   At 9:15 a.m., a service to honor those buried at Lakewood Memorial Park located at 30 W730 US 20 will be held at the cemetery’s Garden of Honor and include a combined color guard.

The observance will conclude with a rifle salute and the playing of Taps. At 9:45 a.m., a program at Elgin Veterans Memorial Park, 274 N. Grove Ave., will feature the Elgin Master Chorale and is especially designed to pay tribute to veterans interred at sea. Following a presentation by Elgin Navy Club members, the service will conclude with the strewing of flowers into the Fox River, rifle salute, and the playing of Taps.  At 11 a.m.  a tribute to the 75th anniversary of D-Day at Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd.  will take place

Elmhurst

Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, 9:30 a.m., May 27.  The 101st Elmhurst Memorial Day parade will step off on York Street.  A Post-Parade Military Ceremony will be held at Wilder Park.

Geneva

Rifle Salute and Memorial Day Parade. May 27.  The Fox River- Geneva American Legion Post 75 honors those honors those who gave their lives to protect our freedom. A rifle salute will be held at 6 a.m. at the East Side Cemetery off Bennett Street. The parade starts at 10 a.m. near the Geneva Metra Station.

Itasca

Memorial Day Parade and Service, 9:30 a.m., May 27.  The parade will step off at Bryn Mawr and Catalpa.  A Memorial Day service will follow the parade at Usher Park, courtesy of VFW Post #5167.

Lisle

Memorial Day Parade and Community Picnic, 10 a.m., May 27.  The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) Ross Bishop Memorial Post #5696 will present the Village of Lisle Memorial Day Parade and Community Picnic.

Following the parade, there will be a short ceremony at the Memorial and then again at the Lisle Cemetery. A free community picnic will follow on the grounds of The Museums at Lisle Station Park.

Naperville

Memorial Day Parade and Services.  May 27.  Services begin at 7:45 a.m. with a flag raising ceremony at City Hall.  Services honoring veterans follow at 8:15 a.m. at Veteran’s Park., 8:35 a.m. at Burlington Square, 9 a.m. at S.S. Peter and Paul Ceremony, and 9:45 a.m. at the G.A.R. Monument.  Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Following the parade, a Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at Central Park.

Oswego

Memorial Day Parade, 10 a.m., May 27. Oswego American Legion Post 675 honors those who have fallen with a parade from downtown to the Oswego Township Cemetery.

Plano

The Yorkville Town Square Memorial includes a perpetual flame that burns in honor of all those who have served in the United States armed forces. (Photo courtesy of city of Yorkville)

Memorial Day Ceremony, 10 a.m., May 27.  On Monday, May 27th, the Plano American Legion Post 395 in conjunction with Plano area businesses, community members and dignitaries will host a Memorial Day celebration.  The ceremony includes a reading of veterans’ names, placing of wreaths, and march to the cemetery.

Plainfield

Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, 10:30 a.m. The parade steps from Ira Jones Middle School and then travels to Settlers’ Park for a ceremony honoring veterans.

St. Charles

Memorial Day Parade, Flag Ceremony, and Celebration, May 25.  At 6 a.m., the Boy Scouts post colors, present the Honor Guard and an honorary gun salute at Baker Community Center, 101 S. 2nd St. The parade steps off at 6th and Main streets at 10 a.m. A memorial ceremony will follow the parade at the Freedom Shrine. Free lunch for post members and family at Arcada Speakeasy, sponsored by Onesti Entertainment. Free Community Picnic at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St.

Sycamore

Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, 10 a.m., May 27.   An opening ceremony will be held at the Sycamore Vets Cub, 121 N California St. The parade will follow at 10:45 a.m. and march to the cemetery where laying of the wreaths will occur at approximately 11:15 a.m.

West Chicago

Memorial Day Remembered. 1:30 p.m., May 27. Kline Creek Farm, 1N 600 County Farm Road.  Observe Memorial Day with a ceremony rooted in the history and traditions of the late 1800s, when the holiday was known as “Decoration Day.”

Wheaton

Memorial Day at Cantigny. 11 a.m., May 27.   Those who served will be remembered at a Memorial Day service at Cantigny Park honoring those who served in the United States Army. A special memorial ceremony will take place at 11:00 AM with the Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division, Major General John S. Kolasheski. Admission free with paid parking.

Woodstock

Woodstock Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade, 10:30 a.m. at Woodstock Square. Exhibits planned around town saluting local veterans.

Yorkville

Memorial Day Ceremony. 11:30 a.m., May 27. Held at the Town Square, the American Legion’s Annual Memorial Day ceremony will include the reading of names printed on the Yorkville Town Square Memorial, music by the Yorkville Middle School Band, and several speakers.

—Compiled by Cathy Janek, for Chronicle Media