Andrews – Despite Andrews High School vice principal Joslyn Parker-Booth’s insistence that the Veterans Parade was “not about the students. We don’t want to make them the focus. It’s about the veterans,” it was difficult to extrapolate one from the other.
Students at Andrews elementary, middle and high schools worked together to plan what Andrews High Principal Lance Bristol claims was “the best way to honor our veterans in a classy way.” If by “classy” he meant highly organized, thanks to Parker-Booth’s efforts, and well attended with excited, respectful people, then he succeeded.
The Andrews Marching Band opened the parade, which honored more than 30 local veterans driven in a 22-automobile processional followed by noisy fire trucks that thrilled children watching. Bristol played master of ceremonies, calling out each veteran’s name, rank and branch of service as they drove by Chestnut Street.
Standing on the Andrews United Methodist Church steps, the Andrews High School Choir sang out anthems from all six branches of the military. High school students waved flags and homemade signs, as did the middle-schoolers.
The parade route ended at the elementary school, where the children waved flags by the school gate as the veterans drove by. After the parade, each veteran was given a Chic-fil-A boxed lunch, hosted by the Wildcats’ football team.
High school history Teacher Nicole Hedden was a mighty force behind the event, although she demurs to the work of the students – “this was all student driven.” Two of her students, Mandy Pendergrass and Brianna Downs, were deeply motivated to participate in the parade.
“My dad and I are both history nerds and noticed all the fictionalized superheroes when we have real-life superheroes among the veterans,” Down said. Pendergrass added that her dad “came back from his Army tour and wasn’t appreciated.” Hedden agreed, saying, “So many soldiers returned with no, ‘Hurrah,’ and we want to restore what was taken.”
Not all in attendance were connected to the school. Nancy Allen sat with her twin granddaughters, Bella and Lelo, waiting for her veteran daughter, Aleisha Mitchell, to drive by in the parade.
Mitchell was quiet about her service. “We don’t discuss it; she doesn’t want to talk about it,” Allen said.
She remained undeterred to help her daughter process her tours of duty. “When she came home, we celebrated our Christmas in June,” Allen said. “I made steaks.”
Shanda Bias watched the parade with her daughter, Madison Adamovish, and her grandchild Stephen, named after his Korean War veteran grandfather. Bias said she had three uncles drafted at the same time.
“My grandmother watched all three of her boys leave for service,” she said. Fortunately, they all returned safely.
Mayor James Reid helped officiate and was proud to be a part of the event. He remembers his grandfather, Beacher Cornwell, talking about his service in World War II.
“He was only 15 years old when he enlisted and said he had many close calls,” Reid said. “He watched a lot of his friends die.”
Downs, a sophomore, said her generation “no longer sees military service as a career option. They considered it requiring huge responsibility, see it as dangerous.” The football team may disagree.
When asked a show of hands for family members in the military, over half the team raised their hands. They began shouting “ONE MORE,” their team motto. “It means one more touchdown,” one player shouted when another player added, “One more act of service.”