Wilmington's Memorial Day Parade Marks Its 154th Year

Press release from the City of Wilmington:

May 27, 2021

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and our City’s residents and businesses enthusiastically support the annual and historic efforts of the Wilmington Memorial Day Parade Committee to honor our nation’s deceased war heroes. Here are the details about this year’s event—the 154th consecutive Memorial Day Parade in Wilmington—to be held Sunday, May 30

The oldest continuous parade in the United States will take place on Sunday, May 30 along the Delaware Avenue parade route

The Wilmington Memorial Day Committee invites the public—either as a participant or spectator— to attend Wilmington’s 2021 Memorial Day parade, the oldest continuous parade in the country. This year marks the 154th consecutive observance of the traditional Memorial Day, May 30, in Wilmington.

The parade will start on Delaware Avenue at Woodlawn Avenue at 6 p.m. Participants will march east along Delaware Avenue to the Civil War Monument at Broom Street, where those who died in the nation’s wars will be honored with a memorial service. Mayor Purzycki is among the local dignitaries scheduled to give brief remarks.

This year’s guest speaker is retired Army Major General Frank Ianni, who will speak about the life and career of the late Air Force Major General Carol A. Timmons, who passed away last August at the age of 62. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and raised in New Castle, Delaware, Timmons graduated from William Penn High School, Delaware Technical Community College and Wilmington University. She capped a storied 42-year military career by becoming the first woman to lead the Delaware National Guard as The Adjutant General (2017-19). General Timmons was a passionate advocate for the Delaware Guard.

The oldest, continuous parade in the United States also has an interesting history. On May 5, 1868, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) commander in chief General John Alexander Logan issued General Order #11, which established the Thirtieth Day of May as Memorial Day to honor those who had fallen during the War. The GAR was the largest organization of Union veterans of the Civil War. That same year, a group of New Castle County citizens formed a Memorial Day Committee. Through their efforts, the City of Wilmington began conducting ceremonies and activities on May 30 in compliance with General Logan’s Order. Subsequent members of that original Committee have continued in the spirit and effort of the original members, honoring the nation’s war dead on May 30. The Committee feels it is important to pass on the tradition of honoring those who have given their lives for our country. For more information, visit: www.wilmingtonmemorialdayparade.com

This press release was produced by the City of Wilmington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.