Drive-thru Memorial Day parade goes off without a hitch
by Dan Holland
For the second straight year, the city of Broadview Heights hosted a drive-thru Memorial Day parade on the grounds of the city campus. Residents were directed to drive through the campus along a designated one-way route in a “reverse” parade between 10 a.m. and noon. Along the parade route, parade attractions, floats, various groups and organizations, classic vehicles and live performances lined the way.
The measure was decided on last year due to concerns over COVID-19, said Mayor Sam Alai by phone.
“Because of COVID, we couldn’t have our normal parade, but we wanted to host something,” he said. “We’ll always do something on Memorial Day regardless of whatever else is going on.”
Participants included uniformed veterans of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Also present was staff and vehicles from the city’s safety forces, an antique tractor from the Broadview Heights Historical Society, a color guard, Boy Scout Troop 810 and the North Royalton YMCA Adventure Guides and Adventure Princesses. Vintage vehicles were displayed by Next Level Auto Detailing and also Andy Puskas, who featured “The Red Big Rig.”
Members of Creative Movement Center dance studio of Broadview Heights, decked out in red, white and blue outfits, performed dance routines throughout the morning.
A number of city officials greeted motorists and passed out candy and USA-themed iron-on patches. Two members of the city’s human services department, dressed in Mickey and Minnie Mouse costumes, also greeted residents. The parade saw around 260 cars in total that drove through the route, and a coincidental F-15 flyover even took place during the parade, according to Alai.
“As we always do, we wanted to bring the community together, especially on a day like Memorial Day,” said Alai. “It’s about those who served and died in service to their country, and we also want to honor those military veterans and their families. It’s all about them; it’s certainly not about us or politicians. It’s about bringing the community together to remember. It’s not about parties and cookouts and things like that; it’s about honoring those who lost their lives to give us the ability to have cookouts and parties, and we don’t ever want to forget that.” ∞
