Boy Scouts to lead Elgin's Fourth of July Parade

The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin announced that the Shabbona District, Three Fires Council of the Boy Scouts of America will be the grand marshals of the city of Elgin's 2010 Fourth of July Parade. The parade, presented by Sherman Health, steps off at 10 a.m. at the corner of Slade and Douglas Avenue on Saturday, July 3, due to the Fourth of July holiday falling on a Sunday this year.

Roland Behring, an Eagle Scout with 75 years of participation and leadership service to Scouting, and Dick Barth, with 55 years of leadership service to the program, will both serve as honorary grand marshals riding in a convertible representing the Boy Scouts and their promotion of lifelong skills and positive role modeling.

In 2010, the Boy Scouts of America celebrates its 100th anniversary of providing programs for young people to build character, train them in responsible citizenship and develop their personal fitness.

In Elgin, the Boy Scouts of America are represented by Shabbona District, Three Fires Council. Shabbona serves some 2,900 youth across 55 units, relying on more than 800 dedicated adult volunteers to advance its mission.

The theme of this year's Fourth of July Parade is "Summer in the City!," a celebration of the city. In addition to the regular parade float judging, a special "175th Anniversary Award" will be given to the float that best tells the story of Elgin's rich history, and a special "Eco-Elgin Award" will be given to the float that best tells the story of a "Green" Elgin - utilizing eco-friendly materials and processes for their parade entry.

More than 16,000 spectators annually attend this summertime tradition. Last year's parade featured more than 130 units, 30 floats and 2,500 participants, and it took over 75 volunteers to coordinate. The parade committee is also actively seeking volunteers for this year's parade. The time commitment is approximately 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., depending on what duty you are assigned. Volunteers are treated to a free breakfast at orientation before the parade and a free T-shirt.

For information on the Fourth of July Parade, contact Jason Pawlowski at (847) 488-1456 or e-mail jpawlowski@elginil.org.