Villa Park
60¢
Review VOL. 16 • NO. 29
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also serving Oakbrook Terrace
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020
Villa Park residents organize their own holiday parade Children take to their bicycles to celebrate the Fourth of July
In early May, Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2801 announced it was canceling this year’s Fourth of July parade because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cancellation of the village’s 2020 Independence Day parade saddened many Villa Park families, including Lynda and Matt Behnke and their three young daughters— Brooke, Shelby and Maddie. Their home on Madison Street is on the route of the village’s festive holiday celebration.
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We were going to be on the sidewalk. There were so many little kids; we didn’t want any issues. We’re very thankful the police were able to come help us. They were all really supportive. The police made it an actual parade.” – Lynda Behnke
“My kids were really disappointed that they canceled the parade,” said Lynda Behnke. “We’re on the route, so that’s a big thing for us every year.” About one week before this year’s holiday, the Behnkes decided to put together their own Fourth of July parade. What began as a family event grew into a community parade. “We have so many kids in our neighborhood who I knew would
Inside:
CHRIS FOX PHOTO Villa Park Review
The Village of Villa Park’s traditional Fourth of July parade was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade route passes by the Madison Street home of the Behnke family. About one week before this year’s holiday, the Behnkes organized a parade that welcomed children and adults to ride their bicycles. The Villa Park Police Department provided an escort for the parade, which began at Park Boulevard and Illinois Avenue. The parade proceeded south on Illinois, west on Madison, north on Cornell Avenue and east on Park back to Illinois. The photo shows several of the young participants heading east on Park near the end of the parade route. “People loved it,” said Matt Behnke, who joined his wife Lynda to organize the event.
just love to join us in something,” The Behnkes organized a holiday said Lynda Behnke. “My husband parade that would allow children to and I thought, why don’t we start ride their bicycles on the sidewalk. something for the neighborhood?” Matt created some flyers to promote the event; Lynda walked around their neighborhood and passed them out. A screenshot of the flyer made its way onto Facebook, and news of the parade spread through word of mouth. “It was all about having fun,” said Lynda Behnke. “We wanted to keep it light and celebrate the day.” The Fourth of July parade began at noon at Park Boulevard and Illinois Avenue. Led by a Villa Park Police Department escort, the parade proceeded south on Illinois to Madi-
Police Reports...........6 Sports �������������������� 14 Viewpoint.................8 Classifieds..............13
son, west on Madison to Cornell Avenue, north on Cornell to Park, and east on Park back to Illinois. “People loved it,” said Matt Behnke minutes after the conclusion of the parade. “We just wanted to put something together—just throw it out there. I couldn’t believe how many people were sitting out on their lawn chairs, waving flags. A lot of people were happy. I’m glad we were able to do something for the kids on the Fourth of July.” Matt Behnke echoed his wife in noting the importance of the VFW post’s annual Fourth of July parade, which will hopefully return in 2021. “It’s a highlight of the year,” he
said. “We love having the parade come right in front of our house. We sit out and just enjoy it.” The Behnkes noted that the presence of the Villa Park Police Department made it possible for children to ride their bikes in the street during the parade. Several adults joined children on the parade route. While most of the participants rode bicycles, some chose to walk. “We were going to be on the sidewalk,” said Lynda Behnke. “There were so many little kids; we didn’t want any issues. We’re very thankful the police were able to come help us. They were all really supportive. The police made it an actual parade.”
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