War Veterans To Serve as Military Grand Marshals at Skokie 4th of July Parade

This letter was written and submitted by Bob Quane, Parade Board

Get fired up for the Fourth of July parade in Skokie that you will never forget. We are proud to announce that residents of Skokie, SGT Mort Paradise, Army, WWII veteran and S SGT Don Perille, Army, Korean War veteran, will serve as Military Grand Marshals and join with parade Grand Marshal Christian Stolte of NBC’s popular prime-time series “Chicago Fire” also a resident of Skokie.

The Military Grand Marshals are an important part of this year’s Independence Day parade as we recognize and pay tribute to all veterans past and present during the 70th anniversary observance of V-E Day.

Mort Paradise served in the Italian, Sicily, and Italian campaigns in WWII from 1944-1946 and Don Perille served in Korea from 1951-1952 as part of the Army Corp of Engineers assigned to build emergency airstrips. Mort Paradise continues to serve Village government topping 45 years as a member of the Plan Commission and Don Perille served the Village for 52 years as Chairperson of the Human Relations and Plan Commission and finally as Village Trustee. It is anticipated that Military Grand Marshals will be a permanent fixture of the Skokie 4th of July parade.

The parade will also include Skokie Valley Post 3854 and the American Legion Auxiliary 320. For more information on the parade and to see the program of the entire line-up, go to www.skokie4th.org

Bob Quane

Parade Board