Categories
Social Commentary

Story of a Small Town Parade

SOLON— For the first time ever, I watched the entire Solon Beef Days Parade as a spectator. What struck me as different was how a parade tells the story of a community. In this brief photo gallery, I attempted to capture that story as I saw it.

The Legion Color Guard always goes first.
The Legion Color Guard always goes first.
There are shriners wearing peculiar hats...
There are shriners wearing peculiar hats…
... and playing patriotic music.
… and playing patriotic music.
Followed by Our Fire Trucks.
Followed by our fire trucks…
... and those of neighboring towns.
… and those of neighboring towns.
The boy scouts also have a color guard.
The boy scouts also have a color guard.
We show off our seniors of the year.
We show off our seniors of the year…
... our scholarship winners...
… our scholarship winners…
... our mayor...
… and our mayor.
There are green tractors,
There are green tractors,
blue tractors,
blue tractors,
red tractors...
red tractors…
... and don't forget that other green tractor.
… and don’t forget that other green tractor.
There were political groups, the Republicans came first...
There were political groups, the Republicans came first…
... the Democrats soon after.
… the Democrats soon after.
Both were friendly and interacted with the crowd.
Both were friendly and interacted with the crowd.
Congressman Dave Loebsack was there...
Congressman Dave Loebsack was there…
... as was my state senator,,,
… as was my state senator…
... and my state representative.
… and my state representative.
The Reyhons family had an entry...
The Reyhons family had an entry…
... as did Larkey Valley Cattle...
… as did Larkey Valley Cattle…
...and this family's grandpa rocks... literally.
…and this family’s grandpa rocks… literally.
Folks from Morse used sarcasm for their messages...
Folks from Morse used sarcasm for their messages…
...folks from Lisbon threw bags of sauerkraut at us...
…and tutu wearing women from Lisbon threw bags of sauerkraut at us.
Don't forget it's the Beef Days parade...
Don’t forget it’s the Beef Days parade…
... although Mexican cuisine was promoted as well.
… although Mexican cuisine was promoted as well.
The women's club dressed like pirates...
The women’s club dressed like pirates…
Kids wore the same T-shirt and straw hats...
… kids wore the same T-shirt and straw hats…
...and the snowmobile club wore short shorts.
…and the snowmobile club wore short shorts.
Did I mention the orange tractor?
Did I mention the orange tractor?
... or the purple one....
… or the purple one….
... or the pink one?
… or the pink one?
These guys were there...
These guys were there…

... and so was channel 9.
… and so was channel 9.
The equestrian entry came last and...
The equestrian entry came last and…
... they were friendly...
… they were friendly…
... and there were a lot of them to end the parade.
… and there were a lot of them to end the parade.