Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

An Editorial Opinion of The Lowndes Signal

A mural in downtown Burlington, Vermont titled “Everybody Loves a Parade” by Canadian muralist Pierre Hardy captures key elements of the city’s history. The vibrant display highlights what Burlington and Vermont citizens cherish most about the place they call home.

Like the famous mural, parades celebrate, in living color, the important moments and people of the community. 

Communities all across Butler, Lowndes and Crenshaw counties held Christmas parades in December. Others commemorate Independence Day, Veteran’s Day, Mardi Gras and other celebratory occasions, taking time out of busy schedules to gather and applaud what’s good in our world.

We do love a parade, and it really is no wonder. Usually featuring well-known citizens and elected officials, local school groups, floats, classic or souped-up vehicles and more, parades give citizens an opportunity to celebrate, to cheer, clap, sing along to festive music and sometimes to catch a sweet treat.

On Jan. 20, Greenville citizens will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a parade downtown. Starting at noon on Herbert Street, the parade will feature 100-year-old Getrude Fails-Payne as its Grand Marshal.

The first significant procession documented in America took place in Philadelphia, the day the Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788. Evolving over time as the racial and cultural landscape of our nation changed, parades became a public vehicle of identity proclamation and validation for groups to organize and unify around a cause, be it a holiday or any other cause near and dear to their hearts.

Stretching all the way back to ancient times (2900 BCE) people have marched to express their heart’s passions. We applaud community members who organize parades for citizens to enjoy and are especially thankful to live in a country where we are free to celebrate with public parades.