During today’s DRA board meeting, the board voted to present Veteran's Freedom Center with $10,872 to support the community's Memorial Day Parade honoring veterans, which will be held for the first time on Schmitt Island.
The parade, which is returning after a three-year absence, has traditionally been a yearly event and will now be held on Schmitt Island, home to Q Casino, Dubuque Ice Arena and Veteran's Memorial Plaza. The new parade route will begin in the casino parking lot and end at the Veteran's Memorial Plaza. Following the parade, there will be a short program and the laying of a memorial wreath to honor those who have given their lives in defense of the country.
The public is invited to attend the parade and ceremony, as well as a community cookout immediately following the ceremonies. Food will be provided by Hy-Vee and is free for those attending. The parade begins at 10:30 am on May 29th, rain or shine.
“Through this funding support, we are pleased to help bring back the local Memorial Day Parade, and we look forward to honoring local heroes who have served our nation," said Kathy Buhr, Director of Strategic Philanthropy & Schmitt Island Development at DRA. "We have a long history of supporting community events, so providing funding that helps residents enjoy this national holiday - while also honoring those who have gone before us - is important."
For more information on Dubuque's Memorial Day Parade and the related ceremonies, contact Randy Rennison, 563-589-7840.
“It's always exciting to see the community come together and show support for programs and activities that highlight others," said Buhr. "And DRA's support of this endeavor is just another way for us to demonstrate our commitment to partnering with organizations who want to be a positive catalyst for improvement and change in the community.”
DRA’s commitment to the community is made possible by proceeds that come from both Q Casino and the Diamond Jo Casino – both of which attract thousands of visitors to Dubuque each year from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and beyond.