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Sunday December 9, 2007
at
2:00 p. m.
Auburn
Christmas Parade
The theme for this year's Christmas
Parade was:
Auburn's 10th
annual Christmas Parade
honors
those who served
Winner of the float contest in first place: New Life
Baptist Church God Rod Team |
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10th Annual
Auburn Christmas Parade a huge
success
By
Jana Hanks-Guest Writer
In the midst of
unfavorable weather, the rain ceased, the sun began to shine and the 10th annual
Auburn Christmas Parade went on as scheduled.
The parade was led by Uncle Sam (aka Mike Britt) with Rita Britt and Georgiana
Hodges debuting the new Auburn flag which was hand crafted by Auburn Tourism's
Rita Britt. The Auburn American Legion Post 258 veterans served as the parade
grand marshals. They were transported in a military vehicle driven by soldiers
and displaying American flags. Other entries in the parade included a 1/3 scale
stealth fighter bomber piloted by Devin Roche, grandson of Auburn mayor Dewey
Roche. The Logan County High School ROTC marched in uniform and beautiful
Christmas music filled the air by the Auburn Middle School band.
The float contest winners are first place, New Life Baptist Church God Rod Team
(wooden dowel ministry); second place going to the STLP (Student Technology
Learning Program) of
Auburn
School; and Special Olympics USA Gold Medal Winners placing third.
A huge monster truck was carrying several residents of Auburn who all threw out
candy to parade on-lookers. Shriners from several areas were in town “clowning
around” and having fun in their funny cars. A train was even rolling down Main
Street tooting its horn with the conductor and several Shriners all aboard.
There were smiling faces all up and down
Main Street
as a record number of people came out to see the Auburn Christmas Parade. Auburn
Beta students adorned in Santa hats were assisting with many duties throughout
the day and helping collect donations for the Shriners Hospital for Children.
The finale came later in the afternoon following the parade when Jana Hanks of
Auburn Tourism Commission presented the “big check” to the Rizpah Shriners in
the amount of $6,839.52.
“This is for sure a record setting year,” Hanks said, “The generous people in
Auburn and surrounding areas simply amaze me. This has been such an emotional
day, seeing people who graciously give to support such a wonderful cause.”
WBKO-TV news even came and covered the parade and helped to get the word out
about what Auburn Tourism Commission does for Shriners Hospitals for Children.
“Helping others is what Christmas is all about,” Hanks said. Auburn Tourism
Commission has collected well over $20,000 over the past few years and have been
able to provide some much needed things for the orthopedic hospital in
Lexington.
Auburn's Shriners patient, Katy Melikant was on hand
to interview with WBKO and share her experience of the quality care that she has
received with a prosthetic leg. Macki Warren from the
Shriners Hospital
in Lexington was also in Auburn to see the parade that she has heard so much
about for years and she was very touched by the efforts that the community of
Auburn has been so devoted to each year for the
Shriners
Hospital.
Auburn Tourism Commission collects donations year around for the Shriners
Hospital for Children. Donation containers are distributed throughout the city
of Auburn and the change that is dropped in all year long helps to fill the
“wish list” from the hospital each year. This year, a new handicapped accessible
pool table with cover has been placed in the Recreational Therapy Department in
Lexington and also a new sofa and love seat in the teen lounge. Monies collected
also included 10 Playstation 2 machines with 10 extra wireless controllers. In
addition to the above items, a large amount of AA batteries and fast food gift
cards are also being collected right now to deliver to the hospital.
There is a “AA battery drive” on-going for those who would like to donate new
packages of AA batteries that is also much needed in the recreational therapy
department at the hospital.
Battery
donations may be dropped off at Hanks Construction Company, Barnes Insurance
Agency in Auburn or Auburn City Hall until Thursday, December 20.
Anyone wanting to donate gift cards from McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell or
Wendy's may also drop them by for delivery to the hospital. The gift cards will
be used to treat long-term patients who can occasionally go out for a meal.
This year's Auburn Christmas Parade was a huge success and Auburn Tourism
Commission thanks everyone who participated and all those who were so generous
in giving to the
Shriners
Hospital for Children.
Merry Christmas to all!
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