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REVIEW:
Thousands flocked to Detroit for 82nd Annual America's Thanksgiving
Parade
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
A
celebration following the end of the parade. Pictured are Detroit
Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr., his wife Kimberly, one of his sons, Santa
Claus and WDIV Local 4's Chuck Gaidica.
DETROIT
-- The economy may be crippling into the Great Recession,
but the spirit of Detroit as well as the human spirit wasn't dampered
at the 82nd Annual America's Thanksgiving Parade last Thursday morning.
Brooke Hogan, Brandy and Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. were
among those riding on floats in the parade for almost everyone to
see.
"We've
been marching down for about 10 years," said Tom Schneider
of St. Clair Shores, a volunteer for The Detroit Goodfellows. "The
Old Newsboys is 'No child without a Christmas'. All the money that
they get goes to buy Christmas packages for children in Detroit,
Highland Park and Hamtramck. So we give out about 30,000 packages
each year."
The
parade was definitely a joyous occasion for the people of the Motor
City to bring their children and grandchildren for such an event
because it is truly a tradition.
"I
come faithfully each year," said Anita Helton of Detroit. "I
brought my nephew Tyrese and my daughter Precious and my father,
brother-in-law and stepson. I'm 53 years old but I'm still a big
kid at heart."
Though
times may be tough, they still have reasons to be thankful: Barack
Obama being elected into the White House and this parade which included
a visit from Santa Claus. For most, it is all about being optimistic,
remaining hopeful for the future and keeping the faith in God.
"Everything's
going to work out," said Gerald Daniel of Detroit. "We
got Obama, the president elected and everything's going to be fine.
We gonna eat good and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank God."
Like
most of the events here in Michigan, the Thanksgiving Parade was
another celebration demonstrating community, fun and so forth right
here in the Motor City we all know and love as Detroit.
"Our
job is to get the balloons to spin," said Bob Zimmerman, a
43-year parade goer from Redford. "That's what we live for.
There's about 75 of us that show up every year. I set-up my bleachers
so we could all be here on Thanksgiving. I think the crowds are
bigger this year. With the economic crunch now, this is kind of
a free thing the city puts on so might as well take advantage of
the entertainment."
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Actress
and musician Brooke Hogan waves to the crowd during the parade.
[
Return to our coverage of the 2008
America's Thanksgiving Parade ]
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