I was privileged to have a chance to be in the Edgewater and Oak Hill parades earlier this month. Each year I anticipate with great exuberance marching with the New Smyrna Beach High School Band, since I am a "Band Mom."
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(Photos by Jeanette DiCara). Jim Tager, principal at New Smyrna Beach High School, and Brian Sullivan, band teacher, accept the "Mayor's Overall Excellence" award from the Edgewater City Council and Mayor Michael Thomas during the recent Edgewater Christmas Parade. The New Smyrna Beach Middle School Band also performs in the Edgewater and Oak Hill Christmas parades after the big Christmas parade in New Smyrna Beach. Adults and children alike cheer on the bands in the smaller photo. At left, the band begins its formations.
Edgewater Mayor Michael Thomas and the City Council presented our high school band with "The Mayor's Overall Excellence Award."
That seemed to surprise the band teacher, Brian Sullivan and Principal Jim Tager, and put us all in very good spirits. This band worked very hard at playing songs such as "The Grinch" and "Angels We Have Heard on High."
As the band practiced, I turned around to take in the sights and sounds of all the beautiful floats and was easily distracted by Don Petro and his family's float that gives away toys and dolls to children. How wonderful during this economic doldrums that they would answer wishes to children at random enjoying this parade.
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Don Petro, 72, of Port Orange, shown here holding a large stuffed animal, was among the float providers in the Christmas parades. Petro and his family have given away teddy bears and dols over the past five years at local parades.
As I was appreciating this awesome concept, I turned to realized the parade had started and the high school band had marched out of sight. I appealed to Barry Sturms, New Smyrna Beach Middle School Band teacher, with whom I had marched in several parades over the years. He gladly allowed me to step in and even shoot photos.
Children on the sidelines waved and danced, and the this band also seemed proud to be a part of this festive tradition. The First Baptist Church on East Halifax Avenue in Oak Hill was kind enough to feed both bands and their parents and teachers before the Oak Hill parade at 2 that afternoon.
Santa stands tall at the Oak Hill Christmas Parade as the marching band performs. Others in golf carts perform tight turns to entertain the crowd.
The students unwound after lunch by playing red rover, football, and tag. They were energized and ready to march for the tiny and tight knit town of Oak Hill. More very young children and their parents waved and accepted candy, and danced to the music.
This community seemed very excited to see the parade. I marched with the high school band in this parade and we were positioned behind a cannon that thrilled the crowd. There was enough to stimulate any observer between the visuals of the pretty floats, color guard flag holders, band players, and of course Santa Claus.
These events easily put me in the Christmas Spirit.
Merry Christmas to you and your families. Jeanette DiCara