Here comes the parade!

Great anticipation & excitement beyond words! That's what I felt on Decoration Day, knowing there would be a parade that afternoon. That morning my sister and my neighborhood friends had decorated our bikes with streamers. They were squeaky clean and wrapped in beautiful red, white and blue crepe paper ribbons and bows. Streamers were woven between spokes and tied onto the back seat of the bikes.

The high school band had been practicing all morning. Now, short bursts from the trumpets and slides from the trombones sounded sporadically. Flutes twittered and clarinets tweeted. Now the drums could be heard loudly banging out a strong rhythm, just a half block up the alleyway.

"Are they coming yet?" was the only question in my mind. I worried that my family would miss seeing the marchers when they started down our street. I ran inside to see where my family was and why they were not standing on the sidewalk with me.

I had put on my majorette costume and my tall plumed hat. I had cleaned my baton so that it flashed brightly when I twirled it in the sunlight. I was ready for the marching band.

I was back on the front brick-paved sidewalk looking up the street to where the band would appear. The drums sounded softer now, which meant they parade had started. Soon they would be here! Then, I saw the tops of the flags, then the flag bearers who carried them.

I yelled through the screen door to my family, "Here comes the parade! You're gonna miss it if you don't get out here NOW!"

Then I was back to the edge of the sidewalk. Now I could see all the flags and behind them came the drum major and the majorettes in their blue and white short-skirted uniforms, throwing their batons in the air, around their bodies, between their legs and into the air again.

The band marched by playing loudly. Every step they took was in perfect time to the music.

Next came the veterans in their crisp uniforms. First a color guard with state and national flags, then the men and women who had served our country.

Local Girl Scouts and Boy Scout troops followed the vets. In later years, my brother, my sister and I would each participated in this event.

Then came the town's children on their decorated bikes. Everyone along the parade route cheered and clapped. They were clearly loved by everyone in town!

Small town. Small parade. Big hearts. Lots of love.

Don't you just LOVE a parade???