About the torchlight parade for Obama in Oak Park on Monday -

[Peregrine Took]

will he be there, and is it still on?

I have great memories of presidential campaign torchlight parades on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in the past.

[hedda_foil]

1. OMG, Peregrine! I suddenly flashed to JFK's torchlight parade in 1960!

I think it was his last stop of the campaign and, as teenaged volunteers, we were given seats in the uppermost balcony in the Chicago Auditorium for his speech. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=60400 And then, the torchlight parade began! What an amazing night.

[Peregrine Took]

3. Girl! The parades I saw were for Carter and Dukakis.

I was a mere student at Visitation High School (55th & Peoria) at the time of the Kennedy campaign although I seem to remember going to an event at Sacred Heart School Parish with my parents to hear him speak.

The Irish Catholic community in Chicago was agog over him. As I recall his sisters had a "tea" for him at a big mansion at 99th & Longwood Drive.

Even the Carter parade was so cool - I remember Ed Vrdoylak running around being a big organizer of same.

Very exciting - I wonder if they will ever have them again?

[hedda_foil]

7. I was a High School sophomore!

About six of my classmates and I volunteered all summer at the local Kennedy HQ in Highland Park and got taken to the rally and parade as our big reward. What a memory! I actually got to see and hear JFK in person. It was one of the most significant events of my life. I remember exactly where we sat and how far we were from Kennedy -- but once he started speaking to that packed hall, he held us all in the palm of his hand. I feel so sorry for those who no longer believe in hope and don't recognize true leadership when they see it -- because they've never had reason to be anything but cynical before.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Do you have a link?

I live very close to Oak Park.

[Peregrine Took]

4. I wish I did - I only heard about it from word of mouth. I'll see what I can

"google"

[Peregrine Took]

5. Here's a link - I hope its still valid

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/organizing/4rclr

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Thanks.

[mopinko]

8. i don't think he will be there.

afaik, he is not "wasting" any time or money on illinois, at all. i thought that they would at least do some sort of downtown rally. but i have not heard a peep. i'm sure i would have.