The chairs, blankets, tarps, ropes, and other assorted items that had lined most of Dole Avenue for two and a half days of claiming “dibs” for parade viewing have returned from where they came. Aside from memories and photos…and we have over 100 of the latter…another 4th of July and Independence Day Parade is already fading into the distance. In fact, what remains is mostly leaves and branches from the storm that ripped through Crystal Lake since then.

Sadly, the memories of the parade and this 4th that will live on, have little to do with the Crystal Lake 4th of July parade. Instead, it will be overshadowed and tainted with the senseless violence that happened to our neighbors a mere 30 or so miles away in Highland Park less than 24 hours later. A horrendous act of evil, that if we are truly honest with ourselves, could just as easily have happened here.

For now, we can mourn for our neighbors, appreciate our first responders who kept us safe at our parade and assisted our neighbors following theirs, and be grateful that our parade came off as it should. And with that, we dedicate this article and these photos to our friends, family, and neighbors of Highland Park, sharing our parade, the way a parade is supposed to be.

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