By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
Bel Air Elementary’s annual Veterans Day Parade might not have floats or folks throwing candy, but it has plenty of joyful spirit. It also has the high school band, banners, happy flag-waving kids, cheerleaders, Stingerettes, and, most importantly, veterans.
“The message of the parade is the importance of service and patriotism. It makes the kids think about how important our veterans are,” said Bel Air Elementary Principal Rosalie Dennis. “People look forward to it.”
The parade is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11. Students, veterans and other parade participants will gather at that time in front of Bel Air and then head east on Willowbrook Drive to Guadalupe Drive, then on to La Jolla and back via Bel Air Drive. First, second and third-graders actually walk the route, while the younger students cheer them on as the parade leaves the school.
“The neighborhood, I think, looks forward to it. We see more and more coming out of their houses each year to watch us go by,” said Dennis.
The parade started six years ago when one of the teachers on staff came up with the idea. “We had a couple of staff members who were veterans, and they served as grand marshals of that very first parade,” said Dennis. “We wanted to do something different and in the neighborhood. We thought it would be a good thing.”
And a good thing it has most certainly been. Everyone in the community — most especially our veterans — is encouraged to attend. Veterans are invited to either walk the route with the students or ride on a flatbed trailer that has been generously provided by Atmos Energy. According to Mrs. Dennis, veterans related to students at Bel Air who would prefer to ride on the trailer may be joined by their students.
Immediately following the parade, the third-grade honor choir will entertain the crowd with patriotic songs. The AHS Pride of the Hornets Band will also play the “Star-Spangled Banner” as the flag is raised.
Tuesday morning’s events are a capstone to related instruction within the classrooms. “The teachers do a great job of explaining how the veterans served our country and why they are important,” said Dennis.