It’s been months since Kendall Coyne Schofield was home.
From fall until May 16, the Sandburg graduate and Palos Park native has been on the run — or on the ice — in Minnesota, Milan and back to Minnesota playing at the highest level of women’s hockey. She participated for Team USA in the Olympics and is a member of the Minnesota Frost in the Women’s Pro Hockey League.
“It great to be back home,” she said. “It’s nice to drive around and not have to use a GPS all the time. It’s nice to go to a store and know what aisle everything is in.
“And it’s great to see all of our friends and family.”
Coyne Schofield, 33, has won two gold and two silver medals and was the grand marshal of the parade during Orland Park’s inaugural Red, White and Blue BBQ Fest Saturday to help honor Memorial Day and celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States.
The new parade started off on Jillian Road and Park Station Boulevard and wrapped up at Centennial Park West with hundreds of people watching along the route. Some shouted “USA, USA!” and “Show us your gold medal!” as a truck carrying Coyne Schofield, her husband, Michael Schofield III, and their son Drew drove by.
“I’m so honored that they picked me to be the grand marshal,” she said.
The second gold medal for Coyne Schofield came in February in Milan in which the USA capped the tournament with a wild 2-1 overtime win over heated rival Canada after trailing most of the game 1-0.
“We knew we were going to win it,” Coyne Schofield said. “We played the worst hockey we ever played in the first period and we were holding our sticks a little tighter, but we knew were going to pull it out.”
During seven Olympic games in 2026, she scored three goals. She also scored three goals and notched three assists in the 2022 Olympic games, two goals and one assist in 2018 and two goals and four assists in her Olympics debut in 2014.
Will there be an attempt for a fifth medal in 2030?
“I’m not thinking about that, yet,” Coyne Schofield said. “I just want to enjoy what we accomplished this year.”
Saturday’s festivities included an amateur rib cookoff, children’s activities, live music and a fireworks show.
Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge had an out-of-town commitment and was not at the parade, but Village Trustee Dina Lawrence said he was happy with the day’s events.
“At this time of year, it’s just getting warm and people are wanting to be outside,” Lawrence said. “The parade was a lot of fun. You love seeing the kids when you offer the candy and little flags.
“And it was a terrific opportunity for us for us to have Kendall as out grand marshal and to show off our hometown talent to other people who may have heard about her but never met her,” she said.
Orland Park native and Manteno residents Ronald and Brittany Evans came back home with their daughters, Harper and Penelope, to see the parade and be with friends.
“The kids like the fire trucks,” Brittany said. “And it’s fun for us to be back in Orland Park.”
Brittany said she was neighbors with Michael Schofield and was at a watch party during the gold medal game at the Schofield’s house.
Coyne Schofield said she will be a guest at the La Grange Pet Parade on Saturday and is mulling an invitation to the ESPY Awards.
Unlike her first gold medal year in 2018, many members of the USA team did not get to go back to their hometowns or make TV appearances right away this year because they were playing in the third-year PWHL.
That was fine with her.
“Playing in the Olympics and then being able to come back and play professionally is a great way to grow the game,” Coyne Schofield said.
There is more going on in the village.
At 11 a.m. on Monday, the village will host its traditional Memorial Day ceremony.
Retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Daniel Miller will be the guest speaker and the Orland Park Children’s Choir will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.”
The village will also recognize 13 veterans who have been added to the village’s memorial wall.
The weekend celebration kicked off a host of summer activities the village will feature.
Centennial West will host free and ticketed concerts.
The Independence Day celebrations take place July 3-4 which includes the annual Veterans Liberty Run/Walk and fireworks.
The village’s largest event, the Taste of Orland Park, will take place July 31 through Aug. 2 at the Village Square.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
