Cicero celebrates Mexican Independence Day Parade

By Alejandra Herrera

President Larry Dominick, the Cicero Board of Trustees together with The Cicero Mexican Cultural Committee, CMCC, hosted the annual Mexican Independence Day Parade. The parade took place Sunday, September 15th, starting at Cermak and Austin. As early as 11:30am all the floats and participants were ready and lining up for the start of the parade, scheduled to begin a noon. Cermak Road was taken over by the celebrations. A tremendous amount of people were lined up to watch the parade.

“I think it’s great. We have a lot of Hispanics that live here. We have a great staff that puts it all together. I just get the glory of it they do a lot of hard work, I’m proud of everything. I hope the weather stays nice,” said President Larry Dominick right before getting into the convertible he rides in every year with his wife.

“I hope everyone has a good day celebrating Mexican Independence Day. Everyone here in Cicero is celebrating it magnificently. It is beautiful to see so many people here. We hope everyone has a great, great day,” said Diana Dominick the Director of Senior Activities.

Cicero Town President Larry Dominick and Diane Dominick celebrate the closing of the four-day Mexican Independence Day celebration held from Thursday thur Sunday, Sept. 12 - 15, 2019. More than 30,000 people attended the festival and viewed the two hour long parade which featured more than 30 floats. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero — Cicero Town President Larry Dominick and Diana Dominick celebrate the closing of the four-day Mexican Independence Day celebration held from Thursday thru Sunday, Sept. 12 – 15, 2019 with Town officials Clerk Maria Punzo-Arias, Collector Fran Reitz, Special Events Director Patti Student, and members of the Miss Cicero Mexican pageant representatives. More than 30,000 people attended the festival and viewed the two hour long parade which featured more than 30 floats. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero

President Dominick and his wife headed the parade throwing t-shirts to the excited crowd. The town’s officials and department heads also participated in the parade showing support for the Mexican American community and honoring the annual celebration, including President Dominick, Clerk Maria Punzo-Arias, Supervisior Joe Virruso, Assessor Emilio Cundari, Collector Fran Reitz, and trustees Larry Banks, Bob Porod, Victor Garcia and John Cava.

“Always very happy especially when it comes to celebrating the Mexican Independence parade. It’s a great opportunity for the Cicero community to come enjoy this day,” said Town Trustee Victor Garcia before the parade started.

The Town of Cicero Board of Trustees float followed President Dominicks’ convertible. Where you could hear, “Viva Mexico!” being yelled by the officials.

The Cicero Mexican Cultural Committee float hosted their Queen Litzy Gutierrez and folkloric dancers, organized by Mexican Liaison Frank Aguilar.

The Special Events truck honked its loud horn as candy and t-shirts were thrown towards the huge crowd. Followed by Mexican folkloric dancers, the Peace Makers, the Parent Patrol team, the Cicero Community Outreach program bus, The Town of Cicero Senior Activities bus, and some elected Officials including Senator Iris Martinez and State Representative Lisa Hernandez who joined the parade walking.

More than 30,000 people attended the four-day Mexican Independence Day celebration hosted by Town President Larry Dominick and the Town of Cic bro, held from Thursday thur Sunday, Sept. 12 - 15, 2019. More than 30,000 people attended the festival and viewed the two hour long parade which featured more than 30 floats. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero — More than 30,000 people attended the four-day Mexican Independence Day celebration hosted by Town President Larry Dominick and the Town of Cic bro, held from Thursday thur Sunday, Sept. 12 – 15, 2019. More than 30,000 people attended the festival and viewed the two hour long parade which featured more than 30 floats. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cicero

Among many others present included the Aztec dancers Ocelotl Cihuacoatl, Morton East High School Mariachi and folkloric dance team, a lot of dancing horses and the Ballet Folklorico Tonantzin team.

Cicero schools and Library said present during the parade as well. District 99, the District 201 mascots float, Lincoln Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Cicero East Elementary, Warren Park Elementary, Sherlock Elementary, and the Early Childhood Center, Morton East High School Soccer team, and Morton College were just some of the schools who joined the celebrations along with their students.

President Dominick and the Cicero Board of Trustees along with the Cicero Mexican Cultural Committee host the parade every year. Make sure to not miss any future celebrations by following The Town of Cicero facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TownofCicero/ and the CMCC facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ciceromcc/.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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