Tunnels To Towers To Lead 2026 South Side Irish Parade, St. Christina Named Honoree

CHICAGO – The South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced Tunnels to Towers Foundation as the 2026 Grand Marshal Wednesday at King-Lockhart Memorial Park. The 47th promenade down Western Avenue will step off March 15.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a national nonprofit helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. The foundation was created to honor the life and legacy of Fire Department of New York firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on Sept. 11, 2001.

St. Christina Parish, celebrating its 100th anniversary, located in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood, is named Parade Honoree.

The announcement was held at King-Lockhart Memorial Park, in the Beverly neighborhood, which holds the 9/11 First Responders Monument featuring a steel beam from the destroyed World Trade Center terrorist attacks of 9/11. The FDNY donated the beam to the Chicago Fire Department in 2013, honoring the life of CFD Capt. Herbie Johnson, who, along with other Chicago firefighters, went to New York to assist the FDNY after 9/11. The Herbie Foundation, installed a 9/11 First Responders Monument with the words Chicago, New York, and First Responders encircling the steel beam. The park, named for two fallen Chicago firefighters, Patrick King and Anthony Lockhart, who lost their lives battling a fire at this site. It continues to be a memorial dedicated to fallen and injured first responders and is located at 106th and Western Avenue along the parade route.

“The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has been honoring those who have given their lives or been seriously injured in the line of duty for decades,” Bill Letz, chair of the 2026 South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade said in a news release. “We are pleased to name Tunnel to Towers Foundation as Grand Marshal, honoring the significant financial impact the Foundation makes by helping the injured and their families across the country, in the Chicago area, and right here in our community,” adds Letz.

Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, said they were deeply honored to be selected as the Grand Marshal for this year’s South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day parade as the nation prepares to commemorate the 25th anniversary of September 11.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to have some of the families Tunnel to Towers has had the privilege to support take part in this event and reaffirm our commitment to NEVER FORGET,” Siller added.

This year, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation is embarking on the most comprehensive commemoration in our history to honor the past, serve those in need today, and educate future generations. On May 1st, Tunnel to Towers will launch Steel Across America, a nationwide campaign to transport an authentic 24-foot steel beam from the World Trade Center to communities across the United States.

Notable stops include the White House, Emma Brooker Elementary School, where President Bush was on the morning of 9/11, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Mount Rushmore, West Point Military Academy, and Chicago August 11-12.

To honor the 343 first responders whose lives were lost that day, Tunnel to Towers Foundation will deliver 343 mortgage-free homes across the country this year as a tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. These homes will be provided through the Foundation’s Smart Home Program for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, the Gold Star Family Home Program for the families of fallen military heroes, and the Fallen First Responder Home Program for the families of those who died in the line of duty.

Parade Honoree: St. Christina Parish - 100th Anniversary

St. Christina Parish, celebrating 100 years of serving the residents of Mount Greenwood, was selected as parade honoree.

“St. Christina aligns with the parade's focus of faith, family and community. The parish aligns with the Grand Marshal’s mission to support first responders, as pastor, Rev. Ryan Brady, is also chaplain for the Chicago Fire Department. And most notably, 80 percent of the children who attend St. Christina School are the sons and daughters of police or fire department personnel,” adds Letz.

“Thank you for this honor as we celebrate 100 years of faith, family and community. We are an incredible family at St. Christina, and we welcome people to come and join us, whether you are returning to the faith or just looking for a place of warmth and caring,” said Rev. Ryan Brady, pastor of St. Christina’s parish. “ It’s a privilege to be celebrated alongside the Tunnel to Towers Foundation as our parish serves so many first responders and teaches many of their children in our school.”

St. Christina Parish will kick off its centennial celebration on April 11 with a party followed by a series of parish events over the next year. More info visit: https://www.stchristinaparish.org/

The South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade commissioned local artist and Chicago firefighter, Tim McCarthy for a special commemorative design that is available on a t-shirt and commemorative poster. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Tunnel to Towers Foundation. In-store purchases of the 2026 parade T-shirt can be made at South Side Irish Imports, 3446 W. 111th Street, Chicago or at the online parade shop at South Side Irish Parade Shirt. The QR code can also be found on the SSIP website and social media.

The parade, operated by the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, that works year-round to continue the family-friendly celebration. The parade committee thanks the generous major sponsors including: Metra, Ozinga, IUOE Local 399, Chicago White Sox, Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11, Flood Brothers, Home Run Inn Beverly, UPAT District 14, ComEd, County Fair Foods, OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center, McCready Law, Rose Pest Control, Old National Bank, Subaru of Evergreen Park, Reyes Coca Cola Bottling, Lakeshore Beverage,The Beverly Review, Hilton of Oak Lawn, Gas n’ Wash, Keeper’s Heart Whiskey, Beverly Bank, Marquette Bank, and South Side Irish Imports and more.