THE OAK LAWN EASTER TORNADO: APRIL 21, 1967

Often called the Belvidere tornado, it has always seemed weird to me. That town had as many dead as in our area, and a lot of housing was destroyed, but Belvidere is up near the Wisconsin border. Don't combine the two.

Regardless, I can recall the day because there were high winds everywhere and no one was allowed to go out to play. I was eight and wasn't even allowed across the street. Just as well, as the tornado struck less than a mile from my block, killing people in traffic and inside of a restaurant serving Easter dinner.