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Star Spangled parade takes to Main
By LANCE STOCKHAUS
for The Hays Daily News
Floats, fire trucks and flying candy. Horns honking, music blaring and horses trotting — everyone was out for a good time.
The temperature rose early for Saturday's "Star Spangled Celebration" parade, but that didn’t seem to diminish the turnout or the smiles of children eager for entertainment.
Tery Chesney is one of the many volunteers who help coordinate the event.
“We have about 60 floats, groups and organizations participating this year,” Chesney said. As with many of the volunteers who help throughout the weekend, Chesney is proud to be a part of the event.
“I love to see the smile’s on the children’s faces, having fun, that’s what it’s all about,” Chesney said.
U.S, Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, made the trip to Hays to be involved with the parade and to help support the community.
“It’s really great to have Congressman Moran here with us, to see someone in his leadership position visit our community is a real honor,” Chesney said.
Many of the parade attendees were eager to see and proud to have the National Guard present, not only in the parade but throughout the whole weekend as well.
Sgt. Amy Belierive, Pvt. Leighton Bingham, Spc. Aaron Bingham and Cpl. Andrew Hughes were all a part of this year’s honorary color guard.
“All but one of us has been in active duty and were proud to be here and to be a part of the color guard,” Bingham said.
Bingham is scheduled to be deployed in September. This was the group's second year to serve as the color guard.
During the festival, the National Guard helps with security, and they also do a little recruiting.
“I feel very proud and grateful to have this honor, and I have friends that have just come back from overseas and it makes me proud to have them recognized today, and every day by our community,” Belierive said.
For the volunteers who worked so hard to put the event together, the payoff came in the form of the smiles of the crowd — folks who ignored the heat and showed their appreciation.
And the children, with their bags at the ready, could be heard from the starting point to Frontier Park, “more candy.”
for The Hays Daily News
Floats, fire trucks and flying candy. Horns honking, music blaring and horses trotting — everyone was out for a good time.
The temperature rose early for Saturday's "Star Spangled Celebration" parade, but that didn’t seem to diminish the turnout or the smiles of children eager for entertainment.
Tery Chesney is one of the many volunteers who help coordinate the event.
“We have about 60 floats, groups and organizations participating this year,” Chesney said. As with many of the volunteers who help throughout the weekend, Chesney is proud to be a part of the event.
“I love to see the smile’s on the children’s faces, having fun, that’s what it’s all about,” Chesney said.
U.S, Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, made the trip to Hays to be involved with the parade and to help support the community.
“It’s really great to have Congressman Moran here with us, to see someone in his leadership position visit our community is a real honor,” Chesney said.
Many of the parade attendees were eager to see and proud to have the National Guard present, not only in the parade but throughout the whole weekend as well.
Sgt. Amy Belierive, Pvt. Leighton Bingham, Spc. Aaron Bingham and Cpl. Andrew Hughes were all a part of this year’s honorary color guard.
“All but one of us has been in active duty and were proud to be here and to be a part of the color guard,” Bingham said.
Bingham is scheduled to be deployed in September. This was the group's second year to serve as the color guard.
During the festival, the National Guard helps with security, and they also do a little recruiting.
“I feel very proud and grateful to have this honor, and I have friends that have just come back from overseas and it makes me proud to have them recognized today, and every day by our community,” Belierive said.
For the volunteers who worked so hard to put the event together, the payoff came in the form of the smiles of the crowd — folks who ignored the heat and showed their appreciation.
And the children, with their bags at the ready, could be heard from the starting point to Frontier Park, “more candy.”
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