If you keep up with my little blog, you know that I recently spent a week in Iowa. Today’s prompt, “Military Monday,” seemed to work well enough for another set of photos – the ones I took of the 53rd Annual Hedrick Barbeque Days Parade on June 23rd. This year’s theme was “Honoring Our Veterans.”
I remember attending some of the BBQ Days events when I was back for a visit as a teenager, but I confess – I remember the Friday night street dance but not the Saturday morning parade…..
I didn’t take a picture of every float or vehicle in the parade. There were quite a few vintage cars, trucks, and tractors. The churches in town were responsible for most of the floats and I thought they did a great job with the theme. Dad(Jerry)’s church alone contributed four floats. Dad and I helped/supervised/distracted/encouraged the float builders one afternoon. Amazingly, one of the float builders was my age and remembered me from our teenaged years when I would come and stay for a month in the summer. (Click to enlarge photos.)
The pictures on the floats are of veterans and current military personnel submitted by the community. Dad made sure to honor a Civil War ancestor of ours on one of the floats.
John Sylvester Strange, 49th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, Company K – my great-great-grandfather.
When I spent time in Hedrick 40-some years ago, there were still banks and businesses downtown. Now the banks are gone, the schools are closed, and there isn’t much open on Main Street. It is still a lovely community. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and the surprise of seeing several people that I knew all those years ago.
A short bit from the local Ottumwa TV station:
Kathy, I want to let you know I’ve nominated your blog for the Illuminating Blogger Award. Please visit their website at http://foodstoriesblog.com/illuminating-blogger-award/
Thank you Jana! I was in need of encouragement today and you have provided it! Hope I follow the steps correctly! 🙂