Skokie July Fourth parade to honor military, teachers, nurses, fire, police, public health pros – Chicago Tribune

After a two-year hiatus as a consequence of COVID, the Skokie Fourth of July parade is returning with grand marshals from the educating, police, hearth, nursing, and public well being professions who helped the group get via the pandemic, in addition to three navy grand marshals.

“We’re excited to be again,” mentioned Richard Evonitz, chair of the Skokie 4th of July Parade Committee. “We really feel like individuals in the neighborhood are hungry for these sorts of occasions that present they’re getting again to a time like earlier than the pandemic.”

“Our aim in placing on the parade is absolutely simply restarting the entire technique of the parade,” he added. “It was vital to us as a committee to try to convey again a parade like we had achieved in 2019.”

The parade begins at midday on July 4 and can observe its regular 1.2 mile route beginning within the Oakton Group Faculty car parking zone and winding its means north on Lincoln Avenue and east on Oakton Avenue, concluding simply after the Oakton Group Middle.

Chicago broadcaster and singer Wayne Messmer will carry out the nationwide anthem to get the parade began.

“He’s a Chicago legend,” mentioned Evonitz. “He’s an unbelievable particular person and an unbelievable singer.”

He additionally mentioned it was vital to the committee that the parade embrace grand marshals from the educating, police, hearth, nursing and public well being professions.

“These professions have achieved a lot to assist all of us on this group get via these making an attempt instances,” he mentioned. “It simply felt so proper to honor these unbelievable individuals as representatives of their professions.”

Niles West Excessive College instructor and 2021 Illinois Trainer of the Yr Justin Johnson is among the parade grand marshals.

The parade’s three “navy grand marshals” embrace Gerald Jaffe, who was drafted in 1968 and served in Vietnam, Paul Plotnik, who retired from the U.S. Military with the rank of employees sergeant and went on grow to be a Chicago Public Faculties instructor and an assistant public defender, and Skokie resident Hank Gould, who enlisted within the Illinois Military Nationwide Guard in 1949 and spent his 24-year Nationwide Guard profession in area artillery and munitions.

“I feel it’s nice that we’re getting again to regular,” mentioned Gould. “The concept of having the ability to stand on the streets of Skokie and watch the weather of the Fourth of July parade go by, that is essential.”

“Having the ability to categorical patriotism on the Fourth of July, that could be a nice return to basic methods of celebrating that we’re all People,” he added.

The parade will characteristic greater than 60 teams offering music and leisure alongside the route, together with the Jesse White Tumblers, the 144th Illinois Military Nationwide Guard Band and the Colt Cadet Drum & Bugle Corps.

The parade might be held rain or shine however might be postponed if there’s “extreme climate,” Evonitz mentioned.

“We’re telling individuals there’s loads of room alongside the parade route however they need to get there early, as early as 10 a.m., to safe a spot,” he mentioned.

Extra data is out there at: https://www.fb.com/skokie4th.