Hartselle has been known for many years as a community that puts its best foot forward when it comes to the annual Christmas parade. The one thousands witnessed downtown last Thursday night was no exception. Even though it was delayed for a week because Hartselle High’s football team was busy winning its first state football championship in Tuscaloosa, it deserved being ranked as one of the city’s biggest and best.

The thing that impressed most observers was the number and quality of amateur floats that were entered under the theme of “A Star Spangled Christmas – Now and Then.”

To demonstrate the reason for the season, the traditional manger scene, complete with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds and farm animals, took center stage on many of the floats. They also used Army campsites with real soldiers as a reminder that we still have military personnel serving in faraway places to protect our freedom. In addition, a float sponsored by the American Legion and marching Blue Star Mothers were there to remind us that “All Soldiers Will Not Be Home at Christmas.”

On a lighter note, children watching and waiting for Santa to appear at the end of the parade were in for a big surprise. Instead of riding on top of the city’s Number No. 1 fire engine, he arrived behind the fire truck standing in and waving from his own handcrafted sleigh. That’s not all, behind him stood a tall red pipe (something similar to a sawed off smoke stack). It poured out snowflakes and filled the cold air. Spontaneously, kids jumped up and down with outstretched arms as if they were experiencing a real snowfall. Then, just as quickly, they fell to their hands and knees to scoop up the candy that had been thrown on the street by Santa’s elves.

Obviously, many hours of planning and work had been put into preparations for the parade. For example, the children and youth of McKendree United Methodist Church spent many hours working on their first place float. The same can be said for First Assembly of God and Girl Scout Troop 633.

Being able to maintain the tradition of providing the viewing public with one of the best Christmas parades in North Alabama is a credit to Hartselle Kiwanis Club, the sponsor.

Thank you for your civic-spirited leadership.