Saluting, the Citrus County way

My Deb loved a good parade.

And there is no better parade than the one taking place today.

It was the Citrus County Chronicle that started Veterans Appreciation Week over 30 years ago. One day just wasn’t enough.

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Numerous events to commemorate military veterans take place, including the best Veterans Day parade in Florida.

Deb was the Chronicle’s human resources director. She also served as a community liaison, so Deb was the one who attended events and fundraisers on the Chronicle’s behalf.

It became a staple of our early relationship. Deb would tell me how she used to attend these things alone, and I’d picture her walking by herself up that parking lot hill at Citrus Hills. I vowed she’d never take that walk alone ever again, and she didn’t.

So, it was natural that we’d pair up for the Veterans Day parade. Decking out my Buick with flags and banners, waiting in the staging area at Citrus High School, trying to figure out our place in line, enjoying the camaraderie with other parade participants.

It may shock you to learn the Chronicle “float” isn’t a priority in the Vets Day parade. We’d be something like No. 390, just behind the people in the golf cart scooping up leftovers from parade horses.

A parade generally goes about an hour for the person viewing on the sidewalk. To the participant, it’s 58 minutes of waiting and 2 minutes of actual parading.

And, of course, perfecting the parade wave. It’s not the “Hey, we’re over here!” wave. It’s not the “Hi! Nice to see you” wave. It’s no wave that anyone would wave in any circumstance other than a parade. The parade wave.

We had so much fun participating in the parade. If you haven’t done that, try it sometime. Walk or ride a parade route. Plenty of opportunities with businesses or organizations. Everyone should feel the center of attention at least once in their lives, and that’s exactly what a parade does.

(Well…that’s a lot about the parade. Look. I’m reaching here, OK? I gotta write something every day or I’m falling backwards. That’s how I look at it. I’m learning that folks use all sorts of angles to work through their grief. Writing seems to be my escape.)

The parade has gotten smaller over the years, but enthusiasm remains strong. It starts today at 10 a.m. near Wallace Brooks Park and rolls through downtown Inverness. The Chronicle has the parade route and parking locations.

I’ll be out there watching from the sidewalk, thinking of my Deb. And giving her the parade wave.

To our military veterans: Thank you.

It’s a little chilly today. Keep warm and have an exceptional day, friends.

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