Northbrook veterans groups, residents join for a patriotic celebration on July 4

Members of the Northbrook American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts were joined by dozens of residents for a patriotic walk on Independence Day Sunday.

Starting at the intersection of Western Avenue and Cherry Lane, the walk proceeded eastward on Cherry, where it curves to intersect with Shermer Road in downtown Northbrook, then westward on Shermer before concluding at the American Legion hall.

Counting the veterans organizations, around 100 people, many carrying U.S. flags, participated in the walk.

The event took place in lieu of Northbrook's annual Fourth of July parade, which had been canceled due to safety concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last's year's patriotic walk was more of an impromptu event, but there was advance planning for this year's walk, said Jim Karol of the George W. Benjamin American Legion Post 791.

The American Legion and VFW posts normally march in Northbrook's Fourth of July parade, and when it was learned that the village was canceling the event, the decision was made to have the patriotic walk, which was open to anyone who wanted to participate, Karol said.

"We organized the patriotic walk just so we had something going on for the Fourth of July," Karol said. "Hopefully next year we will be back to normal."