5/31/08-2 The Parade

Ah, the parade! This is a Reunion tradition that I love. Each class marches together behind their banner and usually wearing something that is fitting to their year or to their reunion. Our banner is the best, but then it was designed by Judy Wild, so of course it would be great.

Here are our classmates gathering. We're donning our beanies. After much discussion, we all agreed that we started that tradition our freshman year . . . on purpose! We ordered these beanies for our first Tinker Day. At the 5 year reunion, Alexandria ordered a new, replacement batch so that we can always match at the parade. Additionally, the white sunglasses are part of our parade attire. They say "Hollins College" on one ear piece and "Class of 1978" on the other.

Alexandria brought her niece and a friend of her niece to reunion so they agreed to carry our banner.

What kind of parade would it be without a marching band? The local high school sends over a small contingent to play "When the Saints Go Marching In" and head up the parade.

Here's the 65th Reunion gang:

The 60th Reunion Class:

These group was the 50th Reunion class when we were the 25th Reunion class. They are still partying hardy at their 55th reunion.

Here's the 50th Reunion Class. Their aprons say, "50th...and still stirring" and yes those are wooden spoons in their hands.

Class of 1963. They had those banners with their yearbook photos made themselves. None of the other classes have that. ;=_

Tie-Dye shirts are certainly appropriate for the class of 1968 celebrating their 40th Reunion.

This is the class of 1998. Each class stands on the sidelines until the parade passes them and then they join it. That way everyone sees all the classes. This 10 year reunion class had t-shirts made with a string of pearls imprinted right on it. How clever! This is the class that at their 5 year reunion, they all wore bridesmaids dresses because that was all they had been doing for 5 years and they couldn't afford anything else.

And the parade ends at the chapel where we all gather for remarks from the 25th and 50th reunion classes, announcements, and awards. It's a great kickoff to reunion, or in our case, the 6 of us leaving immediately after to get to Cathy's wedding, it was a great ending to reunion.