Glen Ellyn Historical Society forms a baton twirling troupe for Fourth of July Parade

Hal Hothan, Glen Ellyn Historical Society treasurer, had the idea of forming an all-skill level, multigenerational troupe of baton twirlers to be a unit in the Glen Ellyn Fourth of July Parade.

Among the baton twirlers is a Glenbard West graduate who twirled in the late 1970s. Another now lives in Elmhurst but twirled in St. Louis and remembers twirling competitions that included Glenbard West. Another baton twirler is a Texan in town to visit her daughter and son-in-law. One of the youngest is a 7-year-old Forest Glen Elementary School student who has been twirling for a year.

This was an opportunity for an historical marching unit to experience a bit of history as well as a showcase for individual twirling skills during the parade.

Laura Gibson is a volunteer who led the twirlers and coordinated the routines used in the parade. Everyone wore a special Glen Ellyn Historical Society T-shirt as the uniform.

Hothan remembers his older sister marching in the Fourth of July parade in his hometown Crete, Illinois. Thinking back on the twirling history in his family he thought the idea would be not only entertaining but bring back memories of earlier parade baton twirling units.

Along with the baton twirlers, Scouting America Troop 75 carried the flags for the historical society. This was their 15th year of participation as flag bearers. Fans were passed out to the parade watchers. The photo on the fan honored this year’s Fourth of July Parade grand marshal, Daniel Anderson, a Glen Ellyn historian, storyteller, author, and philanthropist.