Nick Suleyman drove his motorcycle Sunday afternoon down Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park.
Tens of thousands of people who were at the village’s 26th annual Irish Parade cheered him. Some yelled “Thank you!”
The 76-year-old Monee resident, who heads up area veterans groups, noticed that it was a far cry from when he served in the Air Force in the Vietnam war from 1968-1972.
The reception back then? Some Americans resented American military personnel fighting that war.
“I was called a ‘baby killer,’ and I was spit at,” Suleyman said. “I was yelled at. I was ignored.
“When we came back from the service, we were told ‘don’t wear your uniform.’”
Tinley Park Veterans Commission Chairman Doug Rasmussen said he knew a Vietnam vet who had dog feces thrown on him.
But those days are long gone.
This year’s Irish Parade spotlighted the United States’ 250th birthday and veterans served as the grand marshal. Members of VFW Post 2791 and the Tinley Park Veterans Commission led the parade, which also featured the USS Chicago Base Submarine Veterans.
“Certainly, we should honor our vets no matter what war it was,” Tinley Park Village Trustee Bill Brady said. “This is the 250th anniversary of our country and if it wasn’t for them we would all be speaking with British accents.”
“The veterans should always be put first for what they did,” Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz said. “If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have the freedom that we all enjoy today in the United States.”
Suleyman said after the way the Vietnam vets were treated, he and his generation of miliary people were not going to allow that part of history to repeat itself.
“We said ‘never again,’” he said. “With the conflicts that have taken place since then, we made sure that every veteran who served in a war or a conflict came home and was celebrated.”
Suleyman, who is an honor guard commander and commander of the American Veterans Motorcycle Riders Association, is happy veterans are appreciated more in light of the 250th celebration.
“This year is going to be amazing,” he said. “The recognition of a country and of a people and government … it’s hard to put into words.
“We’ve been through a lot. We’ve been through a number of wars. We’ve been through our own Civil War. We’ve gone through our own dissent and we are going through our own dissent again.”
Meanwhile, the 60-degree weather brought out people in droves. The village didn’t have attendance figures but it usually hopes for a 40,000 person turnout.
Tinley Park resident James Navarro was in a group of eight family members plus a dog they called Benjamin O’Shamrock. Some of the last names in the group included Collins, Schultz and Conte.
“I’m mostly Italian but I’m 25% Irish, just like Henry Hill from ‘Goodfellas,’ so I can still come out and celebrate,” Navarro said. “It’s a great time. We love seeing all of the floats and it’s just a great spectacle that Tinley Park puts on.”
The group has met at the parade for nine years, according to Navarro. Thanks to children, the group has grown.
“We used to live right behind St. George,” Andy Collins said. “We would walk to the parade. We didn’t have as many people then as we do now.”
And weather, even cold, windy and snowy weather, would not curb their enthusiasm.
“The weather would never stop us,” Navarro said. “It only motivates us.”
The Gilbert family of Tinley Park also make it a tradition to come to the parade.
Chris Gilbert had his 4-year-old daughter, Callahan, hoisted on his shoulders so she could have a better look at the action.
“Our family has been coming out a long time, 15 years maybe?” Chris Gilbert said. “Rain or shine, we’re here. We like it because it’s good family fun.”
The village is not done celebrating.
From 7-10 p.m. each night until March 17, Tinley Park will put on a St. Patrick’s Day light show every hour at Harmony Square in the downtown area.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
