We Love Homewood Day 2009 - Hailey's FINAL march

We Love Homewood Day is an annual event held to celebrate the city we love. It starts early in the morning on the first Saturday each May with hot air balloon rides and continues throughout the day with a carnival, rides, crafts and bar-b-que...then just as the sun is setting the We Love Homewood Day parade steps off from the Homewood Library. The star of the We Love Homewood Day parade? Well the Homewood Patriot Band of course! Even though this event celebrates our city, more importantly, it is a major fund raiser for the Homewood Band programs.

Hailey actually got to march in the parade as an 8th grader in a group called 'Dance Workshop' but even though I was very proud to see my baby in the parade in that group, the Patriot Band still competely stole the show!

On May 2nd, 2009 Hailey put on her Patriot Band uniform for the final time to march in her 5th consecutive We Love Homewood Day parade and 4th consecutive as a Patriot Band member.

I worked the carnival early in the day as band parents are always asked to do. Seeing all of the beautiful little girls riding the ride I was working, I couldn't help but get choked up! Standing there taking tickets I was blinking back tears. My baby was all grown up! I just wanted to grab those parents and tell them "Don't miss a thing, it's going to go by in the blink of an eye!" It was VERY hot and humid but I still enjoyed it and told them to sign me up for next year (many band parents continue helping out the band long after their child graduates, in fact the woman who is in charge of the uniforms hasn't had a child in the band in 25 years but she still goes to every game, trip, competition and works tirelessly on the uniforms).

Now it was time to get ready for the parade! My Mom came as usual, and for the first time, Hailey's big brother came to see her march!

 

I snagged some pics from Hailey's friends on FB of them cutting up at parade lineup:

 

 

This parade is pretty predictable but always enjoyable because the whole community comes out to watch, many being able to walk to the parade route from their homes. The parade always begins with the JR Air Force ROTC from the high school. All the regulars were represented: the Southern Belles and cheerleaders, the clowns, the big trucks and huge wreckers, the Birmingham Humane Society with all the cute doggies, as well as city officials and realty companies all throwing candy in hopes of people's support or patronage. This year we had a new addition to the parade: An orthodontists office being represented by a giant, walking tooth! Everybody watched and clapped and collected candy, t-shirts and beads!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But it was all in anticipation AND celebration of the STAR of this parade: THE HOMEWOOD PATRIOT MARCHING BAND!

So, here is HAILEY'S FINAL MARCH!