Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) represented the Navy at Memorial Day events around the Chicago region, May 25 - 29.

Evans participated in the dedication of a military plaque at the Navy Pier in downtown Chicago and joined Chicago Deputy Mayor Andrea Zopp, Alderman Edward M. Burke, Alderman Brian Hopkins, and Navy Pier President and Chief Executive Officer Marilynn Gardner.

"Preserving and recognizing the important contributions of the City of Chicago to our nation's war efforts is a good way to recognize the fallen heroes we honor today," said Evans.

In 1927, Chicago's Municipal Pier was renamed Navy Pier, in honor of the contributions of the thousands of brave Navy and merchant marine trainees who lived, trained, worked and deployed from Chicago in support of World War I.

Evans later participated in a ceremony at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza and the Memorial Day parade on State Street where he was joined by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and representatives from each of the armed services for the commemoration.

Chicago's annual Memorial Day parade has been around since 1870. It is held to honor those who have given their lives to the service of their country.

Evans also had the privilege of attending the Chicago Military Gold Star Family breakfast prior to the Memorial Day ceremony and parade. There, he was able to speak with many families that lost their loved ones defending this country.

The parade featured dozens of marching units and floats including several Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) units from around the region.

Evans made his way out to the western Chicago suburbs speaking at a Memorial Day ceremony in the village of Streamwood.

While speaking to the crowd Evans said, "We owe it to the heroes that died and the loved ones left behind to make sure that their sacrifices are remembered and that their service to this nation is always honored."

On Memorial Day, Evans had the honor of serving as the guest speaker at the Chicago Yacht Club Memorial Day ceremony.

"It is always a great honor to speak on behalf of the Navy and our military, and it is truly a privilege to recognize our fallen American heroes with you on this Memorial Day," said Evans.

NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy, as well as the Navy's citizenship development program.

NSTC includes Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy's only boot camp; NROTC at more than 160 colleges and universities across the country; Officer Training Command (OTC) in Newport, Rhode Island; NJROTC; and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or visit the NSTC Facebook pages at http://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.