West Cook News

According to a report in the Oak Park Oak Leaves, the 1968 River Forest Memorial Day Parade featured baton twirlers, "an array of antique automobiles" and a "Stars and Stripes Stroll," in which marchers handed out American flags to children watching from the curbs.

The 2023 version replaced Old Glory with a pro-cross dressing mascot called the "Gender Unicorn," and the American flags with "rainbow bracelets," meant to honor homosexuality.

Political activists used River Forest's Monday parade not to remember those killed in action, defending the country, but rather to promote abortion, gun control and so-called "trans" ideology, which argues biological sex no longer exists.

A trans activist speaks with a child attending the River Forest Memorial Day Parade | Special to West Cook News

"This parade was always so wonderful and I’m just heartbroken.  Everybody used to call it the Mayberry Memorial Day parade," one attendee told West Cook News. "Now it’s been ruined. These political ideologues wreck everything they touch."

The River Forest Memorial Day parade was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 but returned in 2022.

"We have been coming to the parade every year since our girls were little babies. It was always a wonderful, family event. You never had to worry about any stupid ideological stuff," another attendee said. "Now we get to see the 'Gender Unicorn' on top of a car, and they're passing out rainbow bracelets to all the little kids sitting there waiting for candy on the sidewalks."

"I'm so glad we didn't bring the kids. We won’t be back next year," they said.

Attendees said representatives of State Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and State Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park) were "tasteless" in carrying signs attacking Republicans over abortion while they marched in a parade to honor fallen soldiers.

"Their signs said 'I'm pro-choice, and I vote," an attendee said. "They cannot stop talking about abortion, even for a few hoursl It's disrespecful to men who made the ultimate sacrifice for us. This is a day to think about them."

First held in 1925, the stated mission of the River Forest Memorial Day parade is "to recognize and honor the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States of America and especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice."

It is presented by the River Forest Park District, the Village of River Forest and the Kiwanis Club of River Forest-Oak Park.