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McLouth sets 2nd annual Patriots Day

By Lisa Stevens John - | Apr 5, 2000

This year’s Patriots Day parade, scheduled for April 15 at McLouth seems to be bringing some interesting characters to the limelight.

“We have Paul Revere coming,” said Cliff Weeks, co-chairman of the parade and Recreation Commission chairman. “And also George Washington will ride in on a big white horse.”

This is the second annual Patriots Day parade to be held in McLouth, said Marie Meador, of the McLouth Recreation Commission.

Last year’s parade rolled along, despite 35-degree temperatures, Meador said.

“But we had a good crowd anyway,” Weeks said. “People stood inside the stores to stay warm while they watched the parade.”

Scheduled events include a children’s parade at 11 a.m., in which children are invited to decorate bicycles and dress up in costumes. A larger parade, scheduled for 1 p.m., will feature horse-drawn vehicles, covered wagons, an army reserve band and military vehicles.

Through much of the day, children will be able to enjoy a petting zoo and pony rides.

An American Legion display will include memorabilia, photographs and newspaper articles about wars. Also, McLouth merchants will sponsor a quilt walk.

A highlight of the day will be a high noon wild west show starring Buffalo Bill Cody and Annie Oakley, and at 2:30, a demonstration by the Fort Riley mounted color guard.

Topping the day off will be a chili dinner from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Weeks said the idea for the celebration was first brought to him by Candy Braksick.

“She had read about the parades back East and said that some states even celebrate it as a holiday,” Weeks said. “So we decided to give it a try. We got organized with the recreation commission, the city of McLouth, American Legion and fire department. Soon everybody was getting involved in it.”

Weeks said he thinks the weekend will be a success.

“I think we’ll have a big crowd, especially if the weather’s nice,” he said. “For one thing, this will be a bigger and better parade this year. We’ve already had more entries than last year.”