Saturday’s Libertyville Days Parade featured more than 75 entries, with former parade chair Rich Carani serving as grand marshal.
“I am honored that they would have considered me for sure, because I was actually kind of surprised,” he said.
Carani, who coordinated the parade for several years, retired in June of 2022 after 17 years as Libertyville fire chief and 34 years in the department. He had resided in Libertyville since seventh grade before moving to Minocqua, Wisconsin with his wife, Carol.
“Libertyville is a great place,” he said. “It was a great place to grow up. It was a great place to work. It’s a great place to now go back. I do miss the people. I miss everybody.”
More Top Picks Solar Boat
Carani joined the Minocqua Fire Department as a volunteer and, “last October I got voted in as the chief. It’s still a volunteer position. It’s fun. I’m having fun. If I can help, that’s what I want to do.”
“I think even in 2024, volunteerism is still the backbone of this country,” he said. “I mean, you look at all the civic organizations, fire departments, 70% of fire departments in this country are still 100% volunteer.
“Every organization — churches, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, Lions Clubs, schools — everybody needs volunteers to help them,” he added. “You can’t pay everybody, and I’m just at a point where I’m lucky enough to be able to start giving back as much as I can.”
Also riding in a high-profile spot at the front of the parade, in a Libertyville American Legion Post 329 designated vehicle, was Don Carter, a Libertyville resident since 1974 and U.S. Army veteran who served in 1944-45.
“I landed in Normandy, Utah Beach with the 4th Infantry Division,” Carter said. “It was pretty bad.”
Ron Bernardi, a longtime volunteer and Sunset Foods community service representative, drove a red 1915 Calliope circus truck. Bernardi enlisted to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves from 1963-1970.
The first Sunset Foods opened in Highland Park in 1937.
“We started in Lake County,” he said. “We’re still in Lake County. We support the communities in Lake County, and we give back.”
The Libertyville Days Festival is an annual fundraiser for the Libertyville Civic Center Foundation (LCCF). The LCCF and the village of Libertyville offer community programming and space for the Libertyville Senior Center.
Anne Carlino, LCCF executive director, said, “The parade is an important part of the Libertyville Days Festival and has been for many years. It does draw people to the festival.”
This year’s festival ran from Friday through Sunday a with the theme of “Going for the Gold in 2024,” in honor of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
“In the country, in Libertyville, the most important pillars in our community should be God, country and family,” Libertyville Mayor Donna Johnson said.
The Olympics tradition, she said, “represents country. It represents our loyalty and commitment to God, and it also represents our commitment to our extended family, which are our citizens.
“What a great theme for Libertyville Days,” Johnson said. “What a great theme for the nation, and what a great healing mantra for all of us across the globe.”
Before the parade in the commuter lot where entrants lined up was Blake Stone, fleet facilities director for JMR Landscaping of Libertyville. Stone and colleagues installed the five-circle Olympics symbol on a JMR Landscaping float. Heavy construction loader equipment held a large American flag weighted on the bottom with hex nut hardware.
“We took it pretty seriously,” Stone said. “That’s why we’re going with the patriot theme. We want to come out and thank the town of Libertyville for everything. We’re happy to be a part of the community.”