Tradition marches on

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 12:04 PM EDT article source

Being the oldest continuous Memorial Day parade in the nation, the Ironton-Lawrence County annual event makes history each year when the floats, bands and military units go rolling along.

But this year, one guest made it a little more historic.

Gov. Ted Strickland became the first sitting governor to participate in the parade.

He walked at the head of the procession with Parade Grand Marshal Bob Blankenship and Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Dale Burcham. The 140th edition of the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade went off with ideal weather, a military flyover and an enthusiastic crowd along the sidelines.

The Governor

He had participated in the parade when he was Sixth District congressman, but this was Strickland’s first opportunity to walk the parade route as the state’s chief executive.

“I’m happy to be back,” Strickland said. “This is a patriotic community that loves its country and loves its veterans and I’m proud to be here to honor them today.”

Strickland touted a bill recently passed by the legislature and signed into law by him that will create a department of veterans services, a move he said will provide better service to Ohio veterans.

The awards

The AMVETS 5293, of Ironton, won the Best Theme award for their float that featured a reenactment of the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jima. The Grand Marshal Award went to the Vietnam Veterans of America, a group from Huntington, W.Va., whose float included a smaller version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Tri-State Baptist Temple, of South Point, won the Parade Commander’s Award. Its float featured a cross and young children. The Youth Award went to Faith United Church of the Nazarene, of Ironton. Its float also featured children and a cross. St. Mary’s Medical Center won the Civic Award for its saluting soldier and live music. The Past Grand Marshal’s award went to American Legion 590 of Ironton. That float carried three veterans: Sgt. Marshal Taylor, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, Rolland Holland, a former marine, and Charles Banks, who fought in Vietnam.

The floats

Many of the entries in the parade were intensely patriotic and bore the parade theme this year, “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

The DAV Chapter 51’s contribution was a nod to prisoners of war and those listed as missing in action from all the wars.

One sign read, “Missing, yes, forgotten, no.”

The Kountry Kritters 4-H Club had two kids dressed in camouflage saluting a flag-draped coffin.

One soldier in the parade was young — very young. Stephen Bright III, whose mother, Amanda, and father, Stephen, are both in the Army, was dressed in military gear. He marched with his mother and great aunt, Jan Wisenberger, a past grand marshal and parade committee member.

Other entries had other messages. Katie Scott was pulled along in a wagon.

The sign on it read “God at work.”

Her mother, Cindy Scott, explained her daughter had had a brain tumor in 2003 but has since recovered.

“She’s doing well,” Cindy Scott said.

Katie, her mom and dad, J.D., were part of the Campbell Chapel Freewill Church’s entry. The church also had a float that depicted Christ tied to a lashing post before being hung on the cross — another kind of stripes and a twist to the “Stars and Stripes Forever” theme.

Ohio University Southern had several vehicles in its entry, including one with a little girl, Alannah Molenda, dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

Other floats were purely for fun. Community Missionary Baptist Church’s float was a big ark with singing puppets.

The Harmonica Club of Huntington, W.Va., played live music and as its soloist walked along singing, many people along the parade route clapped and sang with him.

The Chick-fil-A entry featured a giant-sized cow carrying a sign that bore the eatery’s familiar slogan “Eat mor chikin.”

The crowd

Rita and James Aldridge had brought their own folding chairs and sat with their backs to the Ironton City Center, ready to watch the parade.

Rita said she liked the bands best.

Gary Hackworth, of Russell, Ky., brought his wife, Melanie and daughters, Cassidy, 8, and Brooklyn, 4.

“We come over every year,” Gary Hackworth said.

His wife likes to watch the shriners and he likes the bands, but as for his kids, he conceded, “they probably like the candy best.”