This year's South Side Irish Parade will salute Chicago-area first responders with Cook County sheriff's deputies, Chicago firefighters and police officers serving as grand marshals.
The parade, which steps off March 10, also will recognize recent fallen first responders, including Chicago Fire Department Captain Herbie Johnson, police officer Michael Flisk and firefighter Walter Patmon, Jr.
“It is our great honor to recognize Chicago’s First Responders,” parade co-chair Joe Connelly said in a statement. “Each first responder provides invaluable service to the communities of Chicago, including the communities that come together to host this parade.”
Parade organizers pointed out that many of the police and firefighters being recognized are residents of the Beverly/Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood communities where the parade is based..
The parade begins at 103rd and Western Avenue and last year attracted more than 150,000 spectators and participants.
To keep the parade family friendly, a southwest side alderman reportedly wants to crackdown on drunken behavior at the event with stiffer penalties. Under the plan open liquor on the street along the parade route would double to $1,000.
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