Park Ridge’s Memorial Day Parade will feature a stepped-up police presence and other precautions after a mass shooting at nearby Highland Park’s July 4 parade prompted many suburbs to reconsider their security measures at local gatherings and celebrations.
“I think it is safe to say that all local police departments are looking at public gatherings and parades differently since the Highland Park tragedy,” Park Ridge Police spokesperson Tom Gadomski told Pioneer Press in an email. “That being said, we are taking extra precautions including the extra presence of our officers throughout the parade route.”
Preparations for the May 29 event to honor those who died serving in the armed forces and showcase “the best of Park Ridge” are in the home stretch.
Parade organizer and recently elected 5th Ward Alderman Joseph Steinfels said the parade will feature 52 groups from local businesses to political organizations to scouting groups as well as a U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard and sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Station.
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State Sen. Laura Murphy, a Des Plaines Democrat, will be marching in the parade this year, Steinfels said. Bands from District 207’s Maine South and Maine East High Schools will each play in the parade following a hiatus from the 2022 event.
Dancers from the Maine East Cheerleading Squad and Lynette’s School of Dance will also have acts in the parade, Steinfels said.
Steinfels said he sees the purpose of the Memorial Day Parade as twofold. First is the commemoration of the holiday itself, “the service idea, people committing the ultimate sacrifice and giving up themselves, putting country before self,” he said.
“The second purpose is a celebration of all things Park Ridge, a celebration of the community, of the grand marshals, the politicians who… contributed to the community for a long time,” Steinfels said.
This year’s grand marshals will be recently retired 3rd Ward Alderman Gail Wilkening and outgoing District 64 School Board Member Larry Ryles.
Ryles, who served for more than two decades in the military, said it was an honor be this year’s grand marshal alongside Wilkening, who was alderman for seven years and served on the Park Board before that.
“Any time I get the opportunity to represent veterans and the armed forces it’s a privilege,” he said.
While the holiday is a chance for families to spend time together and get some sunshine, he said he hoped parade onlookers would tell their children that this year’s grand marshal is “a man who served his country for a long period of time and deserves to be honored, and Memorial Day is a day we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”
Wilkening estimated that she has participated in the parade about 15 times, both with her children and as an elected official — when she’d pass out dog biscuits rather than the usual candy that comes along with parade celebrations.
“This is the first time ever I’m going to ride,” she said. “Last time we had [the parade], I walked it. I’m not riding because I need to; I’m riding because I have to.”
She might wear one of her alderman shirts for the occasion, she told Pioneer Press, although “I might put a post-it note on my chest that says former alderman.”
Those who wish to march in the parade can still sign up by emailing [email protected].