Memorial Day Parade
Commerce City hosts Colorado's largest Memorial Day Parade each year, bringing thousands of people from around the region together in our community to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Prior to the parade, the city hosts a Memorial Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.
Join us after the parade for a fun-filled celebration featuring live music, delicious food trucks, and family friendly activities! Kids (and kids at heart) can enjoy a rock wall, face painting, balloon art, and more. We are proud to welcome back Commerce City's own Those Crazy Nights - A Tribute to Journey and 80s arena rock anthems from The Vinyl Countdown!
Thanks for joining us for the 59th Annual Memorial Day Parade!
Monday, May 26, 2025
- 8:45 a.m. - Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park
- 9:30 a.m. - Memorial Day Parade
- 11:30 - 2 p.m. - Concert at Veterans Memorial Park
Meet the 2025 Grand Marshals
Luis Calzada
U.S. Marine Corps, Colorado Army National Guard – served 2001-2013
Luis Calzada is a Commerce City native and Adams City High School graduate who spent 12 years in the military, serving in both the United States Marine Corps and the Colorado Army National Guard. He served combat tours in both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars during his career, returning to Commerce City to raise his family after leaving the military.
Calzada joined the Marine Corps at 21 and served as an infantry heavy machine gunner in the 1st Battalion 6th Marines. He deployed first to Afghanistan and then to Iraq with the Marine Corps through 2005. Transitioning to the Colorado Army National Guard in the 220th Military Police Company, he deployed to Iraq again in 2008 and also to Haiti for a humanitarian mission following that year’s devastating hurricanes. His unit was also activated to provide aid in northern Colorado during the floods of 2013.
Calzada and his wife Nicole married in 2001 (the week after Luis graduated from boot camp) and the couple has four children. Luis currently works as a bus driver for the Adams 14 School District, and their family attends the Memorial Day Parade every year.
Tim Gallagher
U.S. Air Force - served 1959-1966
Tim Gallagher grew up in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio and always found himself looking up at the sky. He enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy in 1959 and graduated in 1963 at a ceremony addressed by President John F. Kennedy.
After pilot training at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona, he flew the T-37, T-38 Talon, and F-102 Delta Dagger fighter over a seven-year career, which included an active duty deployment to Bitburg Air Force Base in Germany. Following a back injury that brought an early end to his Air Force flying days, Gallagher began a civil aviation career with United Airlines that spanned 32 years, a half dozen aircraft, and multiple home base locations.
Gallagher and wife Roberta are about to celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary this year. The couple has two daughters and four grandchildren. The family moved to Commerce City in 2003 following Tim’s retirement, and he soon became a founding board member of Landmark Academy at Reunion, where he still serves as School Board President (and perhaps more importantly - he suggests - as a crossing guard). In 2019, he also became a Board Member for the new STEAD School.
2025 Parade Award Winners
Thanks to all our entries for making this another special year for the annual Memorial Day Parade! The following winners were selected by a panel of judges consisting of residents, members of the Commerce City Veterans Commission, and this year's grand marshals.
Community Spirit
1st Place – Colorado Youth Mariachi
2nd Place – Mile High Square Body
3rd Place – 180 Community Church
Most Creative
1st Place – Exquisite Unlimited
2nd Place – Out of Control Car Club
3rd Place – Colorado Captain
Most Patriotic
1st Place – Mile Hi Veterans
2nd Place – The Retired Enlisted Association
3rd Place – Adams 14 ROTC
Best of Parade
1st Place – Marine Corps League Broomfield/Foothills Young Marines
2nd Place – Westernaires
3rd Place – El Jebel Shrine
Grand Marshal’s Choice
Marine Corps League Broomfield/Foothills Young Marines