St. Charles St. Patrick's Day parade goes off despite weather
Despite snow flurries, temperatures in the low 20s and a stiff breeze that could bring tears to the eyes of a leprechaun, the St. Patrick's Day parade went off Saturday afternoon in St. Charles without a hitch.
More than 80 units -- including veterans groups, Cub Scout packs, dancing Irish lasses and bagpipe veterans -- showed up to march briskly down Main Street. One high school marching band begged off because of the cold.
Miss Illinois Ashley Hatfield rode under blankets on the Chamber of Commerce float, while Grand Marshall Rob Johnson, CBS co-anchor, rode on a float sponsored by McNally's Irish Pub.
Because of an early Easter this year, the parade was moved up a week, increasing the chance for wintry weather. Some celebrants avoided the cold by watching from inside.
"We all had a craving for coffee," joked Heather Mendel, 14, who was with her sister Lauren, 10, and a group of friends from Wredling Middle School in St. Charles. They had staked out a window table at Starbucks at First Avenue, where a crowd was buying coffee and hot chocolate.
Kay Delaney of St. Charles, who had dyed her hair green, was with her neighbor Kathy Pulelo and Kathy's daughter Jill inside the coffee shop before the start of the parade.
Delaney said she was definitely watching the parade outside, but she couldn't help thinking of last year.
"It was so gorgeous," she said wistfully.
Sean Bench, 30, a resident of St. Charles since October, didn't let the cold stop him from watching the parade in a tartan plaid kilt, which he had ordered online.
"I had to wear it; it's just a couple of hours," he reasoned. Bench is of Irish descent, and he watched the parade in Sedona, Ariz., last year.
"It was a little warmer," he said.
Michael Hahn of Geneva was the sole member of his family present to watch his 9-year-old daughter march with her cheerleading group.
"She was really thrilled, but I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her," Hahn said.
The parade was dedicated to the memory of Vaughn Olson, who was a 15-year member of the St. Charles police force when he died last year from injuries suffered in a car crash. Olson had helped organize other St. Patrick's Day parades.