Oh where to begin?
I went to a local parade here in Plymouth, Michigan, and a flood of memories came back, in many different forms.
I watched a mother ride to the parade on her bicycle with her two daughters following close behind. They and their bikes were all decorated for a festive and patriotic event, and they were SO ready! Each had a white helmet with fake, silver sparklers sticking out all over and adorned with silver stars. Mom and girls wore patriotic shirts and shorts, but the best part of the whole picture was the way the bikes were decked out: streamers through the bike spokes, with streamers in red, white, and blue trailing behind them.
My mind rushed immediately to the parades my family participated in years ago. The big deal was when the kids would decorate their bikes "to the nines." One of the best parts was clipping a bubblegum card, or in desperation, a card made from a cereal box, to one of the wheel braces with a clothes pin. When the wheels turned, the card against the spokes would make the low sound of a small motor. SO COOL!
The Centreville, Michigan, parade, with its usual entries of the high school band and civic and business floats, always ended at the town cemetery (not realizing until just now, how this brought the event to a true dead end-sorry, poor humor!). It was then that the local American Legion chapter would offer a gun salute, we would pledge the American flag, and go home, to continue the celebration there.
Later in the evening we would head to the Centreville Bulldogs football field for fireworks. They were so great, complete with spinning, firey wheels and flaming flags.
I am so grateful to my parents, and especially my WWII veteran soldier dad, from encouraging our participation in such memorable events.
Watching the parade yesterday gave me pause to reflect on times past, and with newer entries, like the Business Suit Brigade drill team and Mini-Cooper Car Club of Michigan, I can't wait to next year's festivities, eagerly waving "Old Glory" once again! God Bless America!
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