I love a parade
The Memorial Day parade
Happy, yet a somber day,
Honoring those who gave their life
So all may
Enjoy
Basking in freedom and liberty
Free from strife.
The rat-tat tat of the drum
The toot toot toot of the horn
Brings out the innate
Love of a parade
To which every man was born.
The rod straight sight of the marchers
The twirlers so deft and true
The multi colored uniforms of the bands
And their sweet music thrills me through.
Our flag unfurled and steady
Stiffly waving in the wind
Brings a restful peace
To everyone from within.
Many of the marchers
Men and women
Who fought to make our country free
These are the ones who gained for us
Our right to liberty.
Boy scouts, girl scouts
Proudly marching in line
Showing their patriotic allegiance
On their way to adulthood
They’ll mature just fine.
Clowns and jesters
Grace their places
They add smiles
To children’s faces
Strings of cars
Line the parade
Politicians and dignitaries
Wildly wave
To potential voters
Watching the parade.
Tom Fenning
6/3/2006


There’s nothing like a parade. Maybe it’s just the Canadian in me but I love the bagpipe bands. The sound of the bagpipe can bring me to tears; no, not like peeling onions, but in a good way. I love the bagpipes.
David, I think you would have to be Canadian or perhaps English to appreciate bagpipe music. Here in the States we get a sampling of it mostly at police and fireman funerals where it does bring tears to the eyes of those who lost loved ones.
Parades are so fine, they surely are swell, marching in line and singing as well. Blowing a trumpet or banging drums loud, people are cheering we’re all feeling proud. Tom, you really do say it, and say it quite well, we all love parades, the way that you tell.