As an intermission between Republican politicians, the Allegiance Color Guard from Dundee came marching by.
Horses pulling a stage coach also added interest.
A necessary component of any parade with horses is a place to put any horse apples.
The Crystal Lake Park District had an entry with children.
More horses came next.
Shriners were riding them.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi followed.
He had his usual whistle.
A band from Heineman-Marlow Schools in Huntley provided periodic music.
And still more horses.
These from the Midwest Renegades Equestrian Drill Team.
And along came McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz.
She’s up for re-election, but she and running mate Jim Heisler have no opponent.
The next political entry was PFLAG, Parents and Family of Lesbians and Gays, McHenry/McHenry County Chapter.
Following was a group named Catholic Parents of Gay and Lesbian Kids.
The Bill Prim for Sheriff entry was strung out with a pedaled vehicle leading the way.
Besides the float, there was an old, restored fire engine.
People rode on the back.
Behind the truck Bill Prim was walking with Mickey Schuch.
Prim greeted members of the crowd.
Right behind Bill Prim was my church’s float.
The First United Methodist Church is the oldest church in Crystal Lake.
While the city is celebrating its 100th Birthday, First Church is marking its 175th Anniversary.
It’s Christian preschool is fifty years old.
Another fire engine, Tom McDermott’s, brought music from the Sinful Saints.
I guess the American Heritage Girls are as much a political statement as the PFLAG entry.
As I understand its history, it was formed in 1995 in reaction to the Girl Scouts move to the left. According to Wikipedia, it is a Christian alternative to the Girl Scouts formed after that organization allowed the substitution of another word for “God” in Girl Scout promise and supposedly banned prayer at meetings.
More music followed.
Another organization to which I belong was behind the bagpipes–the Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club.
The entry promoted the this year’s December 7th 5K Santa Run.
The parade ended with bicycling zombies.
I kid you not.
No Democratic Party or Independent candidates participated in Crystal Lake’s 4th of July Parade.
There was more to the parade, but it was a way, way back of the zombies.
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Part 1 is here.
Oh Cal, thank you for all those pictures !!!!!!
Every entry was wonderful and expressed the individual entries unity and pride.
Everyone was visibly happy and having fun. True spirit, Great day,and great fun.