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Silent Parade Tonight: It’s Fire Prevention Week


ringing of the bell, fallen firefighters, fire prevention week, pffd, Park Forest Fire Department, silent parade
The ringing of the bell is a soul-stirring moment during the Fallen Firefighters Memorial at St. Irenaeus Church. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- It’s Fire Prevention Week. That means fire departments across the country work, do what they can, to impress on all of us of the importance of remaining vigilant and careful. The theme for this year is, “Look. Listen. Learn. Be Aware. Fire can happen anywhere.”

The first of two big Fire Prevention Week events in Park Forest is the Silent Parade which happens tonight, Thursday, October 11, 2018. This parade
of silent, lights-only fire equipment and ambulances  honors those firefighters who have lost their lives or been seriously injured in fires as they worked to protecting our lives. The event also honors their loved ones who remain.

A short memorial service will be held before the parade in memory of these firefighters. It will take place at St. Irenaeus Church beginning at 6:30 p.m. The parade itself should step off at 7:00 p.m.

It is common for people to line the parade route holding candles. The silence, the candles, the flashing lights honoring those who have fallen — there is nothing quite like it. Quite a solemn event.

The parade route will be as follows:

  • Leave the Village Hall parking lot and turn left onto Indianwood Boulevard.
  • Follow Indianwood east to Forest Boulevard and turn left onto Forest.
  • Continue north on Forest, veer left onto Park Street, passing Garden House.
  • Turn left onto Westwood Drive and follow Westwood to Sauk Trail.
  • Turn left onto Sauk Trail and then right onto Shabbona Drive.
  • Follow Shabbona Drive to Indianwood Boulevard.
  • Turn left on Indianwood and complete the route returning to the Village Hall parking lot.

The Park Forest Fire Department invites those looking for a place to view the parade to come to the lawn at First Baptist Church (southwest corner of Orchard and Westwood) where the PFFD will have a gathering area with bleachers to watch the parade.

Expect to see 30 to 40 vehicles as fire companies from the region commonly send a vehicle or two to participate in this memorial.


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