Marine to be lauded at Wood Dale parade
A Memorial Day parade to honor the men and women who serve our country is a tradition in the city of Wood Dale.
This year's parade steps off at 11 a.m. Monday from Wood Dale Junior High School, 655 N. Wood Dale Road, and travels south to Irving Park Road and west on Irving Park to the city's Veterans Memorial. Anthony Hanley, a Marine just back from Iraq and a Wood Dale resident, is the grand marshal.
"The reason why we're living the way we are is because of the veterans and the people that died for our freedom," said Rich Parse, assistant parade coordinator for VFW Post 2149.
The roughly 75 units include marching bands, refurbished World War II trucks, a U.S. Navy drill team, a U.S. Marines color guard and community organizations.
New this year is a troupe of Peruvian dancers, who will be dancing down the street to "music from the Amazon jungle," said Joe Buttice, parade organizer and past post commander of the VFW Post.
Highlights for the youngest parade watchers include seeing the Medinah Flying Carpets and the candy tossed from the floats.
"They get a lot of candy, that's for sure," Buttice said.
The parade takes about 90 minutes to wind its way to the Veterans Memorial, where the Memorial Day ceremony is held. Wood Dale Mayor Ken Johnson, U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam and State Rep. Dennis Reboletti are scheduled to speak.
Afterward, the VFW Post will be serving refreshments at an open house at its headquarters, 510 Georgetown Square.