North New Castle News

The oldest continuous parade in the United States will take place on Tuesday, May 30 along the Delaware Avenue parade route; Mayor Purzycki will serve as Grand Marshal

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 156th consecutive Memorial Day Parade in Wilmington—to be held Tuesday, May 30, 2023, with Mayor Purzycki serving as Grand Marshal. 

The Wilmington Memorial Day Committee invites the public to attend Wilmington’s 2023 Memorial Day parade, the oldest continuous parade in the country. This year marks the 156th consecutive observance of the traditional Memorial Day, May 30, in Wilmington.  
 
The parade lines up at 5:15 p.m. and steps off 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 our nation’s wars will be honored with a memorial service. 
 
Mayor Mike Purzycki will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal and is among the local dignitaries scheduled to give remarks at the service following the parade on Tuesday. Wilmington’s 57th Mayor, Mayor Purzycki is currently serving his second term as the City’s Chief Executive. Initially elected to office in November of 2016, Mayor Purzycki was re-elected to a second term in November of 2020.
 
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

Original source can be found here.