Waukegan's parade good, could be safer

I really love a good parade. And I truly loved Waukegan's Independence Day Parade on Sunday. My 7-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son (along with their Papa) were thrilled and mesmerized by the dancers, fire trucks, horses, drill teams, beauty queens, bands and cheerleaders parading down beautiful Sheridan Road. I also enjoyed the numerous politicians and public officials reaching out to the people of Waukegan.

The only downside to the day (other than the intermittent rain showers) was the nerve-racking performance by six guys on motorcycles wearing funny hats doing Blue Angel-like maneuvers within a couple of feet of children standing curbside. I saw one of the fez men slam on his brakes and skid on the rain-slicked road, barely in control of his motorcycle, narrowly avoiding slamming into one of his fellow patriots. Shortly after that heart-stopping spectacle (at which the other motorcyclists uniformly laughed), their procession continued with one of the cyclists popping a wheelie, though it wasn't clear that the wheelie was actually intended.

From what I could tell, it seems just a matter of time before an avoidable disaster strikes our festivities. Thank you Waukegan for a very enjoyable Independence Day parade! How about making it just a little bit more enjoyable?

Ralph Strathmann

Waukegan