Started the day with buckwheat cakes...still yummy!...and a friend who has not been to the BWF for about 30 years! She had a great time visiting with lots of people that she had not seen for years. It is a harvest homecoming. Here she is with Stevie...
We went to the school to see my little darlings, who are on the royalty court, before they come out for the coronation. This is the last year that I will have little ones on the Children's Court. They look so sweet all dolled up.
Next, off to the coronation. In the old days, I used to be in charge of the whole field presentation, but it is nice now to just go and enjoy. It is a little bit gratifying to see that they still use some of the changes that I instituted. There are senior princesses and escorts and the king and queen are chosen from this group during a pageant in May. There are junior princesses and flower girls. There are 2 crown bearers and 2 train bearers. In the really old days, the king was chosen by who grew the best buckwheat and the girls were escorted by ROTC cadets in uniform. In the early old days of my time here they used to gather laurel branches to create the staging for the coronation...now, not so much. My very favorite part is when they say each year, "Attention, all ye people of the mountains. I present to you Queen Ceres and King Buckwheat." I love that part and the view of the mountains behind it all...ahhh, tradition! Anyway, here are a few pictures.
Preston High JROTC...we started with the pledge, Star Spangled Banner
and a prayer...we ended with a prayer, too.
They use the ministers from the home churches of the King and Queen.
I love living in this place where praying is still OK.
My 2 handsome darlings. Don't tell them I said that.
The whole court seated after a long series of introductions with
their parent's names and school affiliations. The little ones are trying
to get their sweaters on...it was quite cool out. By the end, the boys
had shared their jackets with the girls. Sweet.
After the coronation we were off to the crafts again...I bought more scarves...no, wait! They are for gifts. Probably. : )
This is one of about 4 craft halls. A nice variety....
Hey. What is this crowd all about?
OH YEAH! Teddy bear suckers! In oh, so many flavors. But who cares about that, really?
Cinnamon is the only flavor you need.
This is right before the parade started. Sharing a little love.
Practicing "The Wave".
This is the Challenge Academy. It is an amazing program through the National Guard that gives
kids having trouble in high school, for any number of reasons, another chance.
We don't have any middle schools big enough to have their own band anymore, so they unified!
They all march in their home school's uniform and they are always the first
band in the parade.
Still waving.
My favorite float. See how big the puppies are? See the people?
And Tow Mater!
Patriotic Pride...an Aurora Tradition. Here is where I started crying.
These old gentlemen in uniform waving proudly. People on the curbs
standing. The young boy beside me calling out, "We appreciate your service."
And....
...this tiny little band following behind and playing God Bless America.
That's what it is all about.
People bundled and huddled on the benches. Remember the benches?
The last band of each parade is always Preston High School.
End of parade...walking in the streets.
Onto the fairgrounds.
The hot dog stand where you get one of my favorite fair foods....
....french fries! With vinegar and salt. They cut and fry them all day for four days!
Eat the french fries while you walk up the street to buy another favorite fair food...
...corn dogs!
Have a look at the sky and head for home....
It was a cold and windy day and it rained just a bit, but I was there with friends and some of my little darlings and it was good.
Supposed to be colder and wetter tomorrow...some years are just like that!
7 comments:
Oh, Donna, I LOVE the photos of you with the kiddos!!!! Wonderful! And, the Tow Mater truck!! Oh, my grandson would just love that! So much fun. Thanks again for taking us along. blessings ~ Tanna
All of this is WONDERFUL, Donna. Makes me want to be part of the mountain people. I giggled at the scarf buying part. I do that too, purchase charming handmade items ostensibly as gifts. They get carefully stowed away, and after a suitable amount of time has passed, I claim them for myself. I don't do this deliberately, but it does seem to happen frequently enough to strongly suggest that I am selfish. Which is not charming. But the gifts are.
Littlest One has The Wave down pat, right from the day she started waving. She knows she is Important.
***Tanna, I live in the kind of place that Tow Mater was front page news in the local paper when he was created.
***WSW, of course, Littlest One has The Wave down. She is going to be famous one day. So glad I am not the only one who regifts gifts to myself! If I really know I can not keep it, I get it in blue. I don't like blue. Seems to work.
This is fabulous Donna! I love it all... from the 'little darlings' royal court, to the salt and vinegar french fries!!
And all of this in a town where it's still O.K. to pray? It's beautiful.
Blessings, Debbie
Ah, honey = I'm crying. This is just so - thoroughly American and dear and exciting and real and - wow. Just wow. Tradition. Prayer. Gratitude for the risk and service given by men to protect this innocence and earnest sweetness. The boots and the families and the freedom, and the work - the coming together to rejoice. The celebration of blessings.
And here's a club: the sneaking present buying women's club. I'm in it, too. I am moved. And glad to be.
Thank you for seeing and sharing the blessings of this place with me. Seeing is one of the gifts that blogging gives to me...I look and see so that I can share.
Our sneaking present buying women's club is still ok because it is big hearted and well intentioned!
Amen
Post a Comment