PHOTOS: 2019 Springfield Memorial Day Parade
“But we come into town every year for the parade,” Lemon said. “It’s something my dad always did with me so I wanted to do the same thing with Henry.”
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Parade Master Jon Stewart said before the parade that he expected about 2,000 people to attend the Memorial Day festivities and 260 vehicles to participate in the parade. This year's theme for the parade was, "Honor a Veteran Past and Present."
The parade route was the same as it was last year, marking the second year since the route was changed. In 2018, the parade made significant changes to its route to open more options to get to the hospital.
The path started near Veteran’s Bridge, made a left on North Fountain Avenue, another left on McCreight Avenue and a final left turn on Plum Street with the end circling back to Veteran’s Park, where a wreath-laying took place.
The changes mainly affected anyone who normally sat close to the fire station, heading north on North Fountain Avenue or by City Hall downtown.
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Stewart said he has been in constant communication with the police department and there were talks about going back to the old parade route, but officials decided to keep the route the same.
“A lot of groups though it was better because the end of the route was downhill and in the shade,” Stewart said.
Lemon said the change didn’t really bother her.
“I was upset about it when it was first announced,” Lemon said. “But now that its been, like, two years it doesn’t really bother me.”
One of the many reasons that Lemon said she loves the parade is that it marks the unofficial start of summertime.
“We love the parade,” Lemon said. “For me, it just feels like the start of the summer.”
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