Publication Date: 06/14/2023

CONTACT: Ann Piccininni
Marketing and Communications Assistant, Wheaton Park District
630.510.4987 | [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fourth of July Festivities: Field of Honor®, Parade and Fireworks

WHEATON—Flags, fireworks and marching bands will mark this year’s Independence Day celebrations in Wheaton.

For five days, flags will unfurl and fly in Seven Gables Park in honor of our country’s heroes.

The 2023 Field of Honor® display will include up to 2,000 flags, displayed in formation, from Friday, June 30 through Tuesday, July 4.

Wheaton’s Field of Honor® is an annual tradition in tribute to service people, hometown heroes and first responders hosted by the Wheaton Park District and the Wheaton United Soccer Club and chaired this year by Rudy Keller.

Donations benefit Warrenville American Legion Post 589.

“Hundreds of volunteers from the community donate their time to make this a spectacular patriotic event,” said Keller. “Each evening there will be patriotic performances to include vocalists, bagpipers, drummers, Honor Guards, flyovers, and Taps.”

Donors may purchase a flag for $35 and dedicate it to a specific honoree.

“After the event, the flag is yours. You pick up your flag on July 4 and bring it home for your yard,” said Keller.

Event sponsors may purchase 10 American flags with the sponsor’s name and business on the website and on a banner at the event for a $500 sponsor fee.

Flags measure 3 by 5 feet mounted on an eight-foot flagpole and are labeled with a flag tag.

For more information about flag purchases, please visit healingfield.org/wheatonil23. For information about volunteering for the event, please contact Rudy Keller at [email protected].

Keller said 750 flags were sold last year, with 1,200 sold in 2021.

An Independence Day fireworks show will presented in Graf Park on Monday, July 3. The evening will feature lawn games, concessions, carnival rides, DJ entertainment and giveaways beginning at 5:30 p.m. There will also be carnival rides. The fireworks show will begin at dusk.

The July 4 parade will step off at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 4 in downtown Wheaton. The viewing stand will be on Front Street. This year, the grand marshal will be Bernard Hurley, who turned 100 years old on May 15 and is a World War II veteran who served under the command of General George S. Patton, Jr. He will be accompanied by his grandson, Jon Ryan Hurley, a Marine who served in Afghanistan. Marching units will include marching bands from Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools, the Medinah Mini Choppers, entertainment from Acrodazzle, the Midwest Model T Cars, and the Four Star Brass Band.

Deadline to register is June 26.