TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Veterans Day Parade Biggest Ever, Say Organizers

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

A Marine stops to give Katie Matson, 3, a strand of beads.

ADVERTISEMENT

By LOIS KINDLE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 13, 2008

RUSKIN - Hundreds brought their kids and lawn chairs or sat in the beds of pickups and SUVs, waving tiny American flags. Others stood curbside and clapped as dozens of floats and marchers passed. They were celebrating Veterans Day.

"There were more participants this year than ever," said Shirley May, who co-chairs the annual Veterans Day parade committee with her partner, Bruce Scheller. Both represent VFW Memorial Post 6287, the event sponsor.

Among the scores of marchers, vehicles and floats in the procession were Jr. ROTC cadets from East Bay and Brandon high schools; numerous Scouting groups; the honorary mayors of Ruskin and Apollo Beach; the Eisenhower Middle School Marching Band; and five area krewes — Charlotte De Berry, South Shore Marauders, Peg Leg Pirate, Rough Riders and Pirates of the Gulf Coast. Motorcycle groups, horseback riders, color guards — even a clown on a bicycle — helped stir up the crowd.

"I've been participating in the parade for several years now," said Melanie Morrison, executive director of the Ruskin chamber and committee member. "The turnout for this parade was the largest I've seen, and the crowd's enthusiasm was absolutely contagious. You can tell word is getting out about the parade, which is a great way to share the enthusiasm of the community with surrounding areas.

"It's an important part of Ruskin's community flair."

For the first time this year, two World War II Navy veterans — Richard Prieur, 86, and Ed Socha, 87 — took part in the parade. Both survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which was Dec. 7, 1941.

"The crowd was so enthusiastic," said Prieur, who was on the USS Missouri during the attack. "It makes me feel proud that so many people turned out. It was a good crowd."

"I was honored to be named grand marshal," said Socha, a retired Navy commander. "And I thought they had a pretty good turnout."

After the parade, the post hosted a picnic.

"The hall was absolutely packed," May said. "I'd say there were several hundred people. We were very pleased by the turnout and support."

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT