Wow! Groovy! Out of Sight! These are just a few adjectives to describe the Dr. M. L. King memorial parade held in Monticello-Jefferson County recently. Young kids ran along side it to keep up with the attractions, while many seniors were seen raising up from their ambulatory chairs to get a better glimpse of the action. Witnesses saw some of them drop their walking canes and seemingly trot in sync with the high stepping band members.
With that in mind, I extend our sincere appreciation to the parade and festivities attendees. Among the participants were Police Chief Fred Mosley, Sheriff Mac McNeill, Fire/EMS Chief Derrick Burrus and their staff. Moreover, the ROTC program of Jefferson Somerset, Mr. Connell and GFast, Buffalo Soldiers of Tallahassee, Thomasville and surrounding areas, local chapters of Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and local churches were very involved. What would our parade be without the reliable presence of the Corvette Club of Tallahassee, the senior citizens center, bands from Gadsden County high, and FAMU high, and even the stick patrol? In addition, there were candidates marching in this parade representing every conceivable political party. Our appreciation goes out to the Monticello-Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, and the many businesses who contributed in meaningful ways. And of course, kudos to Mr. Charles Parrish of the Dr. M. L. King Foundation for being the primary sponsor of this annual event.
Wayne Duggan, a staff writer for Benzinga, says communities should fully embrace parades and festivals due to their trickle-down economic impact. For instance, he confirms that the 2019 Gasparilla parade in Tampa brought an estimated $20 million to the local economy. Similarly, he asserts that the annual Houston, Texas rodeo draws more than 2.6 million visitors and has an economic impact of around $425 million on the local economy. I am not quite sure how many visitors the Dr. M. L. King parade brings to Jefferson County, but the impact it has on our youth, their quality of life, and sustainability in this rural region is enormous as well as immeasurable.
Respectfully,
Gene Hall
Jefferson County Commissioner
District 2