By MICHELLE McCONNAHA
Corvallis Memorial Day Parade organizer John Mowat’s badge said, “Fearless Supreme Leader of the World.” According to Mowat, the parade ran 50 minutes and an estimated 4,000 people came to watch on the sunny Monday morning.
“This is the longest parade we’ve had in a while,” Mowat said. “It all went well.”
The parade began with the firing of the cannon, paratroopers fluttering down and the Corvallis High School band playing the “Star Spangled Banner.”
The Corvallis American Legion Post 91 hosted the event and their banner was carried by scouts.
The parade theme was “Law Enforcement – Keeping Us Safe Through Sacrifice.”
Grand Marshall Chris Hoffman and his wife, Ginny, were driven by Don Dunbar in his restored army jeep. The parade had law enforcement representatives and emergency responders from the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, Missoula, National Institutes of Health, Highway Patrol, Corvallis Fire, Victor Fire, Fish Wildlife and Parks and the U. S. Forest Service.
Montana Hope Project supporters proudly carried their banner. “Granting wishes for Montana’s critically ill children. One child at a time,” is their motto. The American Legion Auxiliary unit sold poppies. Military veterans from World War II rode in the Fort Owen Post 94 wagon.
Parade judges selected Ray Peterson’s Rocky Ridge Express as the grand champion entry, Patriot Guard as the most patriotic and Theresa Manzella’s horse drawn wagon as reserve grand champion. Boy Scout Troop 1962 won first place in the clubs and organization category. The Bitterroot Women’s Club won first place in their western-themed covered wagon with accordion players.
Other entries included antique farm machinery, horse drawn wagons, horses, other farm animals, vintage and classic cars, political candidates, group horseback riders and individual riders including rodeo princess Jadyn Scheffer. Businesses showed their community spirit and the Corvallis Community Church had a barrel train to announce their vacation Bible school.
Flower Happy florist Pam Suarez and helpers gave out 600 beautiful long-stem roses to honor veterans.
The Corvallis High School track team rode a float displaying their track trophies. The Corvallis Girls won Class A track for the sixth consecutive year on Saturday.
Democrats and Republicans were out in force supporting their candidates. Monte, the University of Montana mascot, and Smokey Bear, the U.S. Forest Service mascot, met and entertained parade spectators with flips, hugs and high fives.
Community members started the day with the breakfast by the Corvallis Community Events Center and stayed after the parade to enjoy the music of the Corvallis symphonic band, jazz band and men’s choir. They also ate at the Corvallis Performing Arts Booster Club, played games at the Corvallis School Foundation’s mini-carnival and bought pies and plants from the Bitterroot Woman’s Club.
There were two formal memorial ceremonies by the American Legion, one at the Corvallis Cemetery and one at the Woodside Bridge.
