SLIDESHOW: UPDATE: Winners announced for Fourth of July Parade

Celeste and Keith Pearson have been attending Hinsdale’s annual Independence Day parade for several years.

On Saturday, July 4, they set up folding chairs along First Street by 9:30 a.m. to get a good view of the parade.

Why is the Hinsdale parade so unique?

“It’s really a nice, local event. Local bands, and the coupons they hand out during the parade are always from a local store. Everything is local, and it is easy to get to,” said Celeste Pearson, who handed out flyers promoting the Girl Scout Troop 886’s refreshment stand.

Hinsdale resident Kate Kobus set up with her family across the street from the Pearsons beneath a store canopy, staying out of the slight drizzle that all but disappeared as the parade began at 10 a.m.

“It’s our seventh year, and I think my favorite pat of it is the fire trucks,” said Kobus, as the line of fire trucks turned west on First Street, sirens blaring.

Beneath the judge’s tent at First and Washington streets, Jane and Chuck Foster waited for parade entrants to pass by.

“I’ve been coming to this parade for more than 50 years, said Chuck Foster, who wore a red hat designating he was a 1952 graduate of Hinsdale High School.

Chuck Foster recalled when the village took over the parade in the late 1960s after some Vietnam War protesters carried a coffin in the parade to voice their opposition to the war.

Jane Foster said she enjoys the parade and was looking forward to seeing the float entered by Adventist Hinsdale Hospital.

“Every year they have a nice float,” said Jane Foster.

A standing ovation accompanied the American Legion Post 250 Color Guard, which posted the colors at the front of the parade.

Kelly Toman, a Willow Springs resident, said attending the Hinsdale parade was a family tradition stretching back 25 years.

“This type of parade seems to bring everyone together. It’s a tradition in our family,” Toman said.
Entries came from very near — Hinsdale Central High School’s marching band was one of three high school entries — and as far away as the Sudbury, Ont., Drum and Bugle Corps.

WINNERS

The village of Hinsdale has released the names of the 2009 Hinsdale Independence Day Parade winners.

The July 4 parade had more than 60 entries, and judges named winners in eight categories.

Winners were:

* Cars — First Place, 930 Stutz convertible, Most Patriotic, U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat;

* Floats — First Place, Adventist Hinsdale Hospital, Most Patriotic, Community Service Food Pantry;

* Marching Band — First Place, Leyden High School Band, Most Patriotic, Medinah Highlanders;

* Musical Groups — First Place, Proviso East High School Band, Most Patriotic, Hinsdale Rotary/Route 66;

* Equestrian/Animal Groups — First Place, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Most Patriotic, Top Line German Shepherd Club;

* Children’s Group — First Place, Bamtheatre, Most Patriotic, Indian Boundary YMCA;

* Adult/Neighborhood Group — Golfview Women’s Club, Most Patriotic, Neon Nuts;

* Athletic Team — First Place, Action Gymnastics, Most Patriotic, Falcon Football Cheerleaders