(L-r) Melrose Elementary Principal Leah Lundy was the parade’s grand marshal, accompanied by Assistant Principal Joni Burnett, Zoe Gibson and Don Aarons.
MELROSE— The Melrose Business and Community Association celebrated the survival of Melrose Elementary School during the Merry Melrose Christmas parade Saturday.
The MBCA-sponsored parade, back this year after a pandemic-induced break in 2020, designated the school’s principal as the parade’s grand marshal and proclaimed as the theme for the event: “Be True to your School.”
In 2020, the Putnam County School District proposed closing the school as part of a district-wide rebuilding plan.
But after an outpouring of community support for the school, the district, in February, changed its plan, sparing Melrose Elementary.
Photos and story by Dan Hildebran, Monitor Editor.
Miles Hudson (foreground) marches with Boy Scouts Troop 109.Keystone Kops Fred Magyari and Russell Raulerson riding with the Starke-Keystone Shrine Club.Spectators Justin and Shirin Smith with their sons Jackson and Justin moments before the start of the event.On the Historic Melrose float are (l-r) James Peffley, Eli Peffley, (back) Angela Peffley, Lynn Hughes and Sara Hebert.On the Friends of Melrose Elementary float: (L-r) Caiden Hebert, Julie Tillson, Scarlett Tillson, Tyler Mullen, Emily Mullen, Serena Vacquez Holt, Coral Mixon and Zoe Taft.Riding for the Democratic Women’s Club of the Lake Area are (front seat) Fran and Joe Rossano (back seat l-r) Cheryl Owen, Rissi Cherie and Kate Ellison.Riding in a 1950 Chrysler Windsor are (left) Charles and Mason Lane.Sue Sinclair and Dara Whitty lead the Melrose Library Association’s marching unit.Sally Carlock and Joy Segall lead the Santa Fe Audubon marching group.Richard Segall passing out treatsLine dancers from Smooth Flava Dance in Gainesville (l-r) front: Lorraine Weary, Gwendolyn Anderson, Wanda Lloyd, Yvette Kelley and Carla Law. Back: Jeramiah Gordon, Andrea Wyatt, Albina Stewart, Marlene Jones, Lindy Lee, Kim Terrell, Clifford Law, Anne Gilroy and Angela DeCarlis.Father Tony Powell (left) of Melrose’s Trinity Episcopal Church.Leading the Melrose United Methodist Church marching unit are banner bearers Virginia and Richard Story.
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