The hometown flavor, patriotic theme and lack of lines gave opening night at Naperville Salute Friday a distinctly different feel from Ribfest, the long-standing Fourth of July tradition now moved to a new location.
The Salute featured local bands, food and drink booths, a VIP section, a stirring rendition of the national anthem from the stage and plenty of other signs reminding visitors of its mission to honor former and current military members and first responders.
“Between what servicemen and women are doing domestically and overseas and first responders day in and day out, they definitely deserve our gratitude,” said Julian Franklin, a Chicago resident who made the trip to Naperville to see the Chicago-based, all-female cover band Catfight.
He was joined by friend Ted Zylstra, also of Chicago, who said he appreciated the focus on veterans like himself.
“I think it’s a good thing for veterans. Every little bit helps,” said Zylstra, who enjoyed a free round of beer with his friends from a generous vendor.
Brent Lewis, a former Marine, said he was contributing all proceeds from his Grill Sergeant food booth sales to event host Naperville Responds For Veterans, an organization that provides free critical home repairs and builds new homes for financially struggling vets in the Chicago area.
“We’ll make a sizable donation,” said Lewis, who served in the Marine Corps from 1999-2004. Tina McConnaughey, who volunteered to work at the booth, said even the tips would be going to the vet support group.
General admission tickets cost $15, but active military, veterans and kids 12 and younger received free entry Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Naperville Responds is partnering with the city to present a free fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. at Frontier Park, 3380 Cedar Glade Drive.
Event organizers did not require masks, and Friday night none could be seen on visitors or volunteers, who expressed relief that they could finally socialize again.
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“It’s nice to get out after being locked up for a year,” volunteer Brett Kohlman, of Lombard, said. “We volunteered for Last Fling. It’s not the same organization, but a bunch of the same people. I like the cause.”
Naperville police Officer Ian Connelly had a similar response.
“I think it’s nice people can do stuff again, especially for a good cause,” Connelly said.
“It’s just special to be thought of,” said Officer Dawn Fletcher, a 21-year Naperville police veteran. Despite all the growth the city has undergone in the last two decades, “it hasn’t lost that hometown feel,” she said.
Event organizers say they deliberately sought to capture that feeling.
“Our goal is not to replace Ribfest,” said Dan Jurjovec, president of Naperville Responds For Veterans. “That was massive and successful. Our goal is a scaled-down, family-friendly event to give back to the community.
“Going into this year, no one knew how to proceed (because of COVID-19). We put the pedal to the metal in the middle of May. (We reduced it from) three days of concerts (to two) because of the limited runway with planning. Most of fundraising took place in the last 90 days. People got behind our cause. That’s what this community is about,” he said.
Nancy Quigley, of Naperville, said she liked the smaller feel of Salute.
“It’s patriotic. We like the cause. It’s more hometown. It’s all Naperville people,” Quigley said.
Her friend Chris Olson, also of Naperville, said he misses Ribfest but he won’t be going to Romeoville when the event is held there for the first time in 2022 because it’s not local and doesn’t support Naperville businesses.
Instead, Olson decided his business, Blue Seas Med Spa in Naperville, would be one of the Naperville Salute sponsors, he said.
The $100 tickets to the event’s VIP section sold out, which will be a big boost for the money going to Naperville Responds, Jurjovec said.
“It’s a blessing to do (be able to help vets),” he said. “I’ve been with the organization eight years. My grandfather was a WWII vet. I have appreciation for veterans.”
Diane Moca is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
