As the United States of America celebrates its 250th anniversary, there are still people around who remember the bicentennial celebrations in 1976.
Oak Lawn’s Brenda Nelson took a few moments Saturday before the village’s early Fourth of July parade to recall that time.
“I remember wearing red, white and blue blue jeans,” she said. “They were hip-hugger blue jeans. I was way cool back then.”
Also waiting for the parade to start on 95th street was Oak Lawn’s Jean Marietta, who did not have vivid memories of the bicentennial.
“It was a long time ago. I don’t think they did such a big hoopla about it,” Marietta said. “This is bigger, I think, because it’s the 250th anniversary.”
Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer was also a little fuzzy on details from 1976, when he was 29 years old.
“I was a policeman back then,” Vorderer said. “I guess I’m getting old. I can’t remember 50 years ago. I remember the banners. I remember patrolling. But we’ll be around for the next one, I hope.”
That would put his age at 129.
Meanwhile, Oak Lawn and many other communities across the nation are ramping up their efforts for big celebrations for semiquincentennial events this year.
After the Oak Lawn parade, there was a post-parade celebration on the Village Green, which included a concert from Rockology Chicago, food, face painting and balloon artists.
Oak Lawn’s Nicole Johnson and her 7-month-old daughter, Theo, enjoyed both the parade and post-parade activities.
“It’s pretty cool that we get to come out and enjoy time with the family,” she said. “We get to see all of the other families.
“We love Oak Lawn for having stuff like this. This is our first parade, and it was very cheerful.”
She invited a friend, Schaumburg’s Mike Gascon, to the festivities. He said he came to see “the little one, here,” Theo, but missed the parade.
“I got here late and I got the driving experience where you can’t get down 95th Street,” Gascon said.
What he missed was more than 50 entrants including bands, mascots, motorcycles, old cars and a Civil War cannon with a thunderous boom.
“I like that everyone comes together and it’s a celebration for everybody,” said Kathy Smertene, of Palos Hills. “Everyone is happy about it. There is no arguing. Everyone just comes together.”
Vorderer, a Vietnam veteran, said he was glad people enjoyed themselves but also wanted them to know the importance of the country celebrating 250.
“We should remember that this great democracy has been protected by our veterans — the men and women who have served this country,” he said. “They gave their sweat. They gave their blood. Others gave their lives.”
The parade start times have fluctuated over the years and Saturday’s 10 a.m. stepoff was earlier than usual.
Oak Lawn Trustee Paul Mallo was the lead person in organizing the event and said he was happy with the way it turned out. There was no official attendance figure, but he said he gave out 3,500 pieces of candy to parade goers.
“Oh, my goodness, there were so many who showed up. I was a little worried but so many people showed up,” Mallo said. “They didn’t stay in bed. They got up and celebrated the 250th anniversary.”
A lot more people got out of bed early to prepare for the parade, he said.
“It’s was a phenomenal job by our police, fire and public works today to get this all set up,” Mallo said. “They all got up early this morning to get our street ready to go for this parade.
“The staff did an amazing job keeping everybody in line.”
Mallo said he was proud many veterans in the village’s Hometown Heroes program were able to participate.
Crestwood’s Linda Krone, president on the Johnson-Phelps VFW Auxiliary, said she was glad to see so many veterans present both in the parade and watching in the crowd.
One of those watching was VFW Ralph Nelson, Brenda’s husband, who served in Vietnam. He was in a wheelchair and is not verbal, but he was in uniform and taking it all in.
“The VFW has been great to us and we love our country,” Brenda Nelson said. “I wanted him to ride in a convertible and wave but we’re just going to watch from here.
“It turned out to be a great day I love the weather this year. It couldn’t be better.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
