It has become a tradition here at Sacred Heart Villa to have a parade down to the American Legion site on The Hill to celebrate our country's birthday. This year we had our parade on Friday, July 1st. The children were all dressed up in their red, white, and blue attire. Some of the classes wore T shirts they had decorated with stars, polka dots and tie dyes. Our kindergarten graduates led the parade proudly carrying a banner for SHV School. As the children processed out of the school building to Wilson Ave, they were greeted by parents and grandparents who came to watch the parade. While waving flags and other pieces of art they had decorated, the boys and girls headed to the corner of Edwards Street and Bischoff Avenue. Under the bright blue sunny sky, the children stood in classroom clusters on the lawn of the American Legion Post while their family members and some people of the neighborhood stood along the sidewalk.
We started off the program with a welcome from Ms. Kris. Then the children said the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner.” The children proudly sang a medley of other patriotic songs they had been practicing all week: “This Land is Your Land,” “God Bless America,” “Yankee Doodle Boy,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” Our finale was singing “Happy Birthday” to our country. Though the weather was getting a bit hot, the children stood proudly and enjoyed entertaining the people who came to watch. After the performance, the children processed west on Bischoff Avenue to Macklind Avenue to return The Villa. Little traditions such as our July 4th Parade plant the seeds of patriotism and grow into fond memories.