CHICAGO (CBS) – A week ago, it was anti-war protesters. Yesterday, supporters of U.S. troops had their turn to take over the streets of downtown Chicago.

Maybe it was because the other side got so much attention, or that it was just a week ago, but NATO protesters were on the minds of those out at the annual Memorial Day parade along State Street.

Ahead of the parade, Ald. James Balcer (11th) told the crowd at a wreath-laying ceremony in Daley Plaza that, without their relatives in the military, the anti-NATO crowd wouldn’t have the freedom to demonstrate.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Nancy Harty reports

Parade grand marshal and CIA Director David Petraeus, a retired U.S. Army general, led NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Petraeus said Chicago stood so tall on the world stage and flawlessly hosted the NATO summit.

The city got high marks from Memorial Day parade watchers for how police and organizers handled the summit and protests.