Shamrocks and other greenery festooned floats, bands played jigs and a queen reigned over the festivities for Countryside’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade.
About 50 floats participated in the parade that marched through the community Saturday.
Parade chairman Tim Ryan, along with other organizers, wanted the parade to be a family event like the South Side Irish parade was when it started in 1979.
“We wanted people to bring out their lawn chairs have fun with it,” Ryan said, adding the parade was designed to go down residential side streets where people would feel at ease to come out and watch it.
Organizers also wanted the parade to do some good for the community.
A 17-year-old with Down syndrome was selected to be the parade queen. Tori Reyes, of La Grange Highlands, who is a junior at Lyons Township High School, wore a green gown and sparkling crown as she reigned over the event.
Ryan said the parade served to highlight the school’s Best Buddies program that pairs students with intellectual or developmental disabilities with other students in general education for social interaction, fun and mentoring. Reyes was nominated by her buddy Kate Dillon, 14, of La Grange.
The theme of highlighting good via the parade also included raising money for scholarships.
The grand marshals were John and Brenda O’Laughlin of Indian Head Park, who started the Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Foundation in honor of their daughter, Kelli O’Laughlin, who was murdered during a burglary at their home in 2011.
The foundation awarded its first scholarships in 2012, and has distributed $195,000 to date in scholarships. It plans to provide an additional $100,000 this year. When that money is distributed, it will have provided funds to 47 college students, John O’Laughlin said.
He thinks his daughter would be happy that students are able to achieve their dreams through the foundation.
Talking about his daughter, John O’Laughlin said, “she was so connected to her friends. I think she’s happy we’re trying to help other kids and her friends.”
The scholarships, he noted, are open to anyone in Illinois. Some of the scholarship recipients also took part in the parade.
For information, on the Kelli Joy Memorial Foundation, visit to kellijoyolaughlinmemorialfund.com
More Top Picks Best Dog Exercise Pens
.Twitter: triblocalam