Let's dial back on all that candy-tossing

My husband and I haven't been to the Memorial Day parade or the July Fourth parade in Arlington Heights in maybe 10 years.

We stopped attending because it just wasn't enjoyable for us anymore - because of the candy. Kids screaming and crying because they didn't get any, got very little, didn't like the kind thrown, pushing, shoving, standing in the street between marchers, etc.

It was not "meaningful" any more. It became the "Arlington Heights Big Candy Give-Aways."

Listening to the news on WBBM radio the evening of July Fourth reinforced that, when one of the top stories was about suburban parades and sure enough, "kids will remember the Arlington Heights parade and all the candy that was thrown."

The front page of the July 5th Herald showed four people dressed in red, white and blue at the parade. I thought how nice that was that young people would dress patriotically - until I read their sign - "If you love America, throw candy here".

Well, what can you expect? They grew up with the mindset that this is what the parades were all about - candy!

I truly wish Arlington Heights would do away with the candy throwing and concentrate on the true meaning of our Memorial Day and Independence Day parades. It is becoming a time when little children look at veterans and think about the candy they threw at a parade, and NOT think about the sacrifices they made.

Mary Kay Arndt

Arlington Heights