The next the last parade this year in McHenry County was in the Saufen und Spiel one in Johnsburg on Sunday, 9-11.
As usual police and fire vehicles were in front.
Next were Johnsburg Police Chief and I’m assuming an official of the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.
A squad car from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department followed the Johnsburg Police squad car.
Unlike in Crystal Lake, Sheriff Keith Nygren was not driving it. Just as in Lake in the Hills, the Sheriff was not in the parade.
The Color Guard came next.
The Johnsburg Rescue Squad–oldest in McHenry County and founded in 1952–had what I’m guessing was its original vehicle.
Equipment from the McHenry Township Fire Protection District came next.
Parade Marshal Ron Rich and his wife Mary Ann were in the first car behind the fire trucks.
Rich served the Boy Scouts for 25 years as the Kishwaukee District Boy Scout Commissioner and local Boy Scout leader.
He chaired the Saufen und Spiel and parade for three years. An active member of the Knights of Columbus #9167, he worked fund raisers, among other activities.
Rich was also on the board that was responsible for Johnsburg becoming a village.
Besides being associated with the Johnsburg Boys Baseball League, he served fifteen years on the chain gang for Johnsburg High School’s football teams.
Rich was also chairman for the Johnsburg Club’s Building and Grounds Committee and cut the grass.
A trailer of Veterans came next.
Village President Ed Hetterman followed the Veterans. I talked with his driver, whom I assume is his wife.
She told me that he had the opportunity to ride in a Bentley, but didn’t want to upstage the Police and Fire personnel, whom he though should be being honored on the anniversary of 9-11.
There were intervening entries of politicians, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Then I spotted this Gary Lang vehicle pulling a decorated boat.
Gymnasts, the Johnsburg State Bank, Girl Scouts, some commercial floats came before the next entry referencing the significance of the day.
It was the St. John the Baptist Catholic School float. Young students not alive when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were hit waved below the sign.
Right behind was a van from the Johnsburg Library. The announcer said Sunday library hours were to resume soon.
Advertising a September 17 and 18 Stade’s Farm Market exhibit of antique tractors, truck and construction equipment was a billboard and lots of tractors.
A 1941 Farmall tractor had a flag with a 9-11 theme.
The message on the flag was
In Remembrance of
The Fallen
9/11/01-9/11/11
Ten Years Gone.
Never Forgotten
The flag had a bald eagle’s head superimposed on a field of stars in the upper left hand corner. To the right was the New York City skyline.
The text was superimposed on the white stripes.
And that was all I saw concerning the evil 9-11 attacks in the parade.
While chatting with folks in the food and entertainment tent area, I noticed Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Trustee Cheryl Hammerand was wearing a distinctive 9-11 tee shirt.
You see it below: