Kennett Square's Memorial Day parade was everything a small-town parade should be, full of veterans, military vehicles, historical re-enactors with loud guns, antique cars, marching bands, gleaming fire trucks, motorcycles, and lots of kids.
What sets Kennett's parade apart, as far as I'm concerned, is the addition of things like the Ferko String Band, a calliope, men riding penny-farthing bikes, dragon dancers, a lavishly costumed Mexican dance troupe, a group of Native Americans, gymnasts (two boys performed back flips right in front of us!), martial arts masters, the gang from Hood's BBQ in Unionville, the Godzilla-sized Turkey Hill cow statue, and -- this year -- Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, who was walking along North Union Street shaking hands, accompanied by his security people and Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick. I'm told that Kathi Lafferty of The Mushroom Cap presented the governor with a box of mushrooms!
Among our merry group of spectators was a friend's Mom who just recently moved to our area. Her husband, a WWII veteran, was riding in the parade for the first time, and it was great to see the huge grin on his face as he went past us.
Organizer Bill Taylor did another great job this year of organizing the parade, and the weather couldn't have been nicer.
After the parade a few of us went out to lunch and saw some of the motorcyclists. I thanked them for taking part, and they said the downside of participating is that you don't get to actually see the parade! They said they hoped somebody would post a video.
Tilda, Bill Taylor does an outstanding job as the Chairman of the parade committee. I believe that all members of Post 491 of the American Legion of Kennett Square deserve a shout out too for this wonderful parade.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Mr. S! They even picked up my friend's Dad at his home and made sure he got where he needed to be.
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