On Thursday, July 10, residents are invited to come out and enjoy the “City of Champions” parade. Groups and individuals who have experienced a banner year are invited to take part in the processional.

 

The parade will begin at 6 p.m. in the vicinity of All Saints Catholic Church and will proceed up Philadelphia Avenue, concluding at Bridgeport High School.

 

The end location and the date of the parade are ideal, said Organizer Michelene Sheppard.

 

“The idea is that the kids will be right there near Bridgeport City Park and they can head on over to Benedum Festival teen night,” she said.

 

When Sheppard decided to organize the parade, she contacted Benedum Festival Chair Jason McCall about tying it in with the annual Benedum Festival. 

 

The idea for the parade, she said, came about when Bridgeport High School boys’ and girls’ track teams captured the state championship and members Kayla Haywood and Abe Merinar claimed respective high point honors – both first-time accomplishments, not only for BHS, but for Harrison County.

 

“We just decided these kids deserve a parade,” said Sheppard, whose son Hunter was a member of the shuttle hurdle relay team.

 

The fact that this past school year was a record year for other BHS athletic teams – football, baseball and cross country – and Quiz Bowl and TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) too - it just seemed the perfect year to implement a new tradition, Sheppard said.

 

In addition to championships, it was a year for runner-up positions and well-deserved advancement to the state level. All accomplishments, statewide and local - high school, youth and others - are to be celebrated, she said.

 

Groups and individuals who would like to be in the parade are invited to contact Sheppard at 304-624-9206. Walkers, riders and floats are welcome.

 

“We also need convertibles for some of our individual champions to ride in,” she said. 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo by Jeff Toquinto; photos of BHS football and baseball by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.