Veteran of two wars gets an 89th birthday parade in South Elgin

“Sir Walter” got a parade because he deserves a parade.

Marine veteran Walter Telford, known to his many friends at the Elgin VFW Post 1307 and Moose Lodge 799 as “Sir Walter,” smiled and waved from his wheelchair Saturday as dozens of vehicles passed his South Elgin home to offer 89th birthday wishes.

“Oh, my. That was a surprise,” he said.

“He hasn't been out to see his friends in probably a year,” said his daughter Louann Skinner, with whom Telford shares a home on Wills Street. “He used to meet them at the Moose all the time.”

But failing health and the threat of a pandemic has kept him behind closed doors until Saturday, when Telford ventured out to his front lawn with red, white and blue balloons tied to his wheelchair.

Telford served two tours of duty in Korea, and two more in Vietnam.

The parade was led by noisy South Elgin and Countryside Fire Deptartment trucks and finished with two South Elgin Police Deptartment vehicles. In between was a variety of friends, waving and wishing happy birthday. Telford chuckled through the whole event.

“Happy birthday, Dad,” Louann said, as she kissed him on the cheek.