21st Annual Silent Parade to Kick off Oct. 9 in Hinsdale

Submitted by the Village of Hinsdale.

On Friday, Oct. 9, the 21st Annual Silent Parade, which honors all fallen firefighters in the line of duty and any civilian who perished in a fire, kicks off at the Hinsdale Fire Department at approximately 7 p.m.

This impressive parade has become a proud tradition in our area and is heavily attended by several Chicagoland area fire departments.

Residents from all over are encouraged to line the streets with American flags and flashlights to pay their respects for lives lost, and to express their gratitude for the men and women who proudly serve their communities as first responders, firefighters and emergency medical services.

The parade will leave from the Hinsdale Fire Department located at 121 Symonds and traveling west along Chicago Avenue in Hinsdale through Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Downers Grove and ending in Lisle.

A brief ceremony will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1101 Kimberly Way (two blocks south of Route 53 and Maple Avenue), Lisle at approximately 7:45 p.m. This year’s speaker is Lt. Matt Olson, Program Director of Illinois Fire Fighter Peer Support, presenting Emotional Wellness in the Fire Service.

Five years ago, the Hinsdale Fire Department experienced its second line of duty death in the over 100 year old history of the Department. Deputy Chief Mark Johnson suffered a heart attack in the fire station while on duty in 2010, and Firefighter Walter Flemming died while fighting a structure fire in 1946. Both men are immortalized in the Department’s history and will always be remembered as men of honor who served this community with great pride.