Parade in his honor is birthday first for 80-year-old Wheaton man

Even an 80-year-old can experience a birthday first.

For Lou Addante of Wheaton, it was his first birthday during a stay-at-home pandemic and, on a brighter note, the first birthday parade held in his honor.

The surprise parade was put together by his four kids, including his son Anthony Addante, a Mount Prospect police officer.

"He's a special man, he's had a lot impact on a lot of people," Anthony said.

Anthony and his brother Lou, a DuPage County Forest Preserve police officer, called together some friends from their departments and a few other local agencies and used their contacts to bring in what was the highlight for their dad; a street sweeper.

"The street sweeper brightens my day whenever he comes by," said "Big" Lou, as he is affectionately called.

After the parade, Rev. Max Behna of St. Michael Catholic Church in Wheaton said a blessing and joined friends and family in singing happy birthday - all from an appropriate distance.

"My dad is the rock of our family, he keeps us together and he's taught us so many life lessons," said daughter Carla Kemp.

They had planned a surprise party for his 80th before the pandemic, but pivoted since they couldn't gather for a normal party.

"I didn't expect all of this," Big Lou said. "This was very much a surprise,"