Northbrook residents of all ages turned out Monday to watch the village’s Memorial Day parade and and observe the Village Green Park program to honor members of the military who died in service to the nation.
People brought chairs and blankets to line the streets in a parade route which began at Greenbriar School and headed east under the railroad tracks to Meadow Road, turning on Shermer Road to the Village Green.
Local schools and Scouting groups participated and the parade ended with many of the people who attended the parade following the procession in the barricaded streets to the park.
The Glenbrook North High School marching band again provided the trumpet player, Olivia LaCerra of Northbrook, who sounded taps to conclude the podium and stage program in the park’s ball field.
LaCerra’s extended family from Park Ridge came to observe the moment.
LaCerra spoke of the honor of playing as a, “big remembrance for all the veterans and for people who served and aren’t here today.
“It’s just a big honor to be playing for everybody here,” LaCerra said.
Speakers at the podium included representatives from the Sons of the American Legion and the George W. Benjamin American Legion Post 791 of Northbrook.
The keynote speaker was John Ustich, Northbrook’s chief of police and a United States Navy veteran.
He urged attendees to reflect as they continued their Memorial Day weekend with home barbecues or other gatherings.
“Please take a moment to remember that freedom truly is not free,” Ustich said, “and remember those men and women, because without them, we would probably be here in a completely different situation and having a totally different conversation.”
