Thousands attend Mokena’s Fourth of July parade
to celebrate everyday people who live and work in the area
“I like seeing all the kids, the flags and all the patriotism,” said Phil Victor, of Mokena, who added he has been coming to the parade for 10 years.
Mokena Mayor Frank Fleischer said the village has been having the parade for several decades and people come from all over the Chicago area to see it.
“This is a big deal,” he said. “This is really what Mokena is.”
Parade marchers included more than 80 entries from marching bands, civic organizations and local businesses.
Joe Werner, a former Mokena mayor, brought some World War II through Vietnam War era trucks and cannons that he restores at his Veterans Garage in Posen.
One highlight was a 1950s Nike missile that he drove through the parade.
It is being restored for the Oak Forest Park District and he said it should be installed later this summer.
Werner said showcasing the military equipment was important because the military helped make Independence Day possible.
“It’s an important thing for people to see,” he said.
Also in the parade was Mokena resident Pam Toppen, whose son Aaron Toppen was a soldier who was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2014.
She rode in the parade in her son’s pick-up truck, which still has his tobacco chew in it right where he left it before being deployed.
This was Toppen’s first time marching in the parade.
“It brings tears to my eyes,” she said of being in the parade in memory of her son.
Toppen said the village has been very supportive of her in honoring her son’s memory.
The sixth annual “Our Fallen Hero” 5K run/walk in memory of Aaron Toppen is scheduled for September and will benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation’s Scholars Program.
The theme of this year’s parade was “Heroes Among Us” to celebrate everyday people who live and work in Mokena.
This year’s parade grand marshals were longtime Mokena crossing guards Phyllis Karpola and Kay Oehman.
Many of those marching tossed candy to children who eagerly collected them.
Spectator Kim Gerk, of Mokena, has been coming to the parade for 17 years. Gerk said the event creates a sense of community.
“It’s fun to see the crowd all decked out for the Fourth,” she said.
The parade was organized by the Mokena Chamber of Commerce.
Fireworks were scheduled for the evening.
There has been controversy associated with that event this year because some local activists objected to the appearance of a Confederate reenactment group, arguing the group supports Confederate values as stated on its website and has nothing to do with the Fourth of July.
