Surprise grand marshal enjoys parade in Villa Park

At first, Lance Cpl. Andrew Pickerill was kind of annoyed when his father asked him to pack his Marine uniform before coming home to Villa Park on leave.

“I kept asking him, ‘What for? What for?’ said Pickerill, 20, who was deployed to Afghanistan for seven months and was stationed in Hawaii for the last few weeks.

As Pickerill later found out, the uniform was for his appearance as grand marshal in Villa Park’s Fourth of July parade. People around him tried to keep it a secret until Monday, but Pickerill admitted the cat was out of the bag a few days ago. Still, he said, the experience was cool, even if it wasn’t a total surprise.

“It was great, it was wonderful. It was nice to do that and see everybody who is supporting us,” said Andrew, who rode in a white Oldsmobile 442 convertible belonging to a member of VFW Post 2801, which organizes the annual parade. “I saw a lot of people I didn’t know, but I also saw some of my teachers and my old wrestling coach.”

More than 1,000 people took part in the parade, either walking or riding in about 60 units that featured emergency responders, churches, schools, businesses, scout troops, and even two military armored vehicles.

With clear, blue skies and temperatures in the 80s, the day was perfect for a parade, said Glen Ellyn resident Gary Dyer, a member of the Wild Fire Harley Owners Group (HOG) chapter in Villa Park. “We’re here to show respect and honor our veterans and our country,” Dyer said. “It’s a good day to ride.”

Guitar players Noah Rogers, 13, and Cassie Heaney, 14, performed on Trinity Lutheran Church’s float as part of a band from Trinity Music Center. “I’m excited and nervous, too. I’ve only been playing for a few months,” Cassie said just before the parade started.

Police estimated there were 2,000 to 2,500 spectators along the route, which this year was changed due to construction on Villa Avenue.

Resident Patrick Timms, 56, who has lived his whole life in his house on Central Avenue, said this was only the third or so time in the last few decades the parade has marched by his front yard. “At one time, this was considered one of the best in the western suburbs. There were even water fights between the fire departments,” he said. “It’s still nice. I am always proud and patriotic. Proud to be a Villa Parkian.”

Local businessman Ron Janis, owner of Private Sewer & Water Corp. in Villa Park, said he sponsored parade participation by the Bunkhouse Boys, a local bluegrass band whose members are mostly older veterans.

“They represent Independence Day very well. They represent what our country is about,” said Janis, of Lombard, who came to the parade with his wife and children. “They all fought for our country, and now they are enjoying the freedom that they fought for.”

Fourth of July is indeed a time to honor the freedom and liberty that the United States affords its citizens, said Peter Oba, of Berkeley, a native of Nigeria. Oba became a U.S. citizen in 2002, and now he makes sure to take his two young children ages 4 and 6 to the parade every year, he said.

“I am teaching my American-born kids what they will celebrate for the rest of their life,” he said.