Homecoming parade, one big family reunion
By Patrick Ervin
Publisher
For one hour and three minutes on Friday, downtown Indianola was abuzz with the Gentry High School homecoming parade. At approximately 4:06 p.m. the area near the corner of Main and Front streets teemed with people gathering for the start of one of the town’s signature spectacles. Political candidates with signs affixed to their vehicles, homecoming court participants decked out in tuxedos, evening gowns and crowns, and business and organization representatives waved with spirited smiles as kids and kids at heart sitting curbside scurried to pick up candy being flung from floats and vehicles. “It’s like one big family reunion,” said Taljedia Johnson. “I’m a band parent, so the most enjoyable part to me was watching the Gentry Band perform. And I also enjoyed seeing Greenville High School’s band.”
The homecoming parade provided spectators a glimpse of the diversity of life in Indianola both within the educational realm and in the community. Naturally, the event celebrates the homecoming court being honored through a selection from their peers. But it also featured students who had been named Ms. Marine & Aquatic, Mr. and Ms. English IV and Mr. and Ms. Algebra II along with groups like the I-Town Riders Motorcycle Club and the Mississippi Delta Community College officials. “The thing that I like most about homecoming is that it brings so many people into town who haven’t been here for a while,” said Mississippi Center for Justice Attorney Max Meyers. “I used to teach at James C. Rosser Elementary a few years back and now most of those students are in their early twenties. I got a chance to see a couple of the students who were once my students.”
The great spectacle that the homecoming parade was on Friday also provided an opportunity for the townspeople to show off their clean rides and demonstrate the horsepower under the hood. Around 4:36 p.m., several sports cars rolling two abreast stopped in front of the Enterprise-Tocsin office and revved their engines. Closely following was a double decker bus with blues music blaring as young ladies in black and white two-stepped to the beat.
All of the floats, smiling faces and good times set the stage for the remainder of the weekend which featured the big game and plenty of food and fun. “It’s really all about the kids,” said Michael Young, a youth league basketball coach. “And as a former athlete, it gives you that extra motivation and boost to play well when you see your community come out and support you for the game. It’s very important to get that push and support from the community.”
“I’m looking forward to the tailgating and block party tonight,” Johnson said. “This is one weekend that we really look forward to in Indianola.”
