MUNSTER — The public is invited to join in honoring the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Edward P. Robinson Community Veterans Memorial Park on Monday, May 26, with special recognition given to the citizens of Munster who served and fell in combat.
The remembrance event begins at 11:30 a.m. and is organized by Munster VFW Post 2697 in coordination with American Legion Post 16. A solemn 21-gun salute will be performed at noon using the post’s ceremonial cannon, weather permitting. The memorial park is located at 9710 Calumet Avenue, Munster.
Memorial Day, first established in 1868 by The Grand Army of the Republic, was intended “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country … with services and testimonials of respect.” The tradition continues as a meaningful way for communities to come together in remembrance and gratitude.
The 6.5-acre memorial park is more than a place of tribute—it is a regional destination that commemorates the service and sacrifice of American veterans who served in the major conflicts of the 20th century. Conceived in the late 1990s by a group of local veterans, the Community Veterans Memorial was designed with three guiding principles: to remember, to educate, and to challenge future generations to honor the values of service and patriotism.
Conveniently located just 2.5 miles south of I-80/94 on the west side of Calumet Avenue, north of Sheffield Avenue, the park is open daily from dawn to dusk. Memorial Day events will be held rain or shine, and admission is always free.
For more information about the memorial and its mission, visit CommunityVeteransMemorial.org.
