BRINNON — The annual Loyalty Day parade doesn’t draw a large quantity of people, but the quality is first-rate, organizers brag.
“The saying is that we have more people in the parade than we have watching it,” said organizer Dalila Dowd. “But the whole community comes out to honor our country.”
Dowd estimated that this year’s parade drew 60 participants and 60 observers.
“This is the first parade of the year and represents small-town America at its best,” said Jim Watson, as he helped participants line up before the parade.
The parade, which travels along two long blocks through Brinnon, took about 10 minutes from start to finish.
It was followed by a ceremony in front of Johnston Realty at 40 Brinnon Lane.
Commemorated with large banners carried by parade participants were 12 soldiers from Washington state who had died in Iraq or Afghanistan.
“It is to honor those who have given their lives and those who are serving now,” Watson said.
The parade’s participants included primary school classes from Brinnon and Quilcene, as well as members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Rhody Royalty, Brinnon Elementary School royalty and actors from the Brinnon Community Theater.
Several Jefferson County elected officials also participated, including all three county commissioners, the assessor, treasurer, auditor and Superior Court clerk.
“There is a great deal of community spirit here,” said Treasurer Judi Morris.
“Many of the larger parades, like Rhody, have visitors from out of county. This is more intimate,” she said.
“This is very heartfelt and sincere, and there isn’t a lot of shtick,” said Ruth Gordon, Superior Court clerk.
“I like the shtick of the Kinetic [Skulpture Race in Port Townsend] and all that stuff, but this is straight Americana and is very well-intended.”
Loyalty Day was first observed in 1921 as Americanization Day, and was designated as an official holiday by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.
The official designation is May 1, but the Brinnon celebration, which has taken place for 25 years, is usually on the last Friday of April.
In commemoration of Loyalty Day, the local post office is offering a commemorative cancellation, which costs 45 cents above the cost of the stamp and the envelope.
The cancellations will be available throughout the month of May at the post office at 144 Brinnon Lane.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
