MORE FESTIVITIES...

Not much time for weeding Memorial Day morning before we headed to Stoddard, our small river town neighbor for local festivities. Their parade was set to begin at 10:30 am and although we haven't been for a couple of years I figured nobody would be in our spot alongside the ball field fence.  We certainly wouldn't need more than a cushion of 10 minutes to arrive and back into our space to watch the parade from the car right where the parade ends... 
AND lo and behold this year we found folks parked not only parked along our section of the field fence but also young families's kids awaiting with plastic bags the candy that would be thrown. There was just enough room for the Miata to squeeze in the remaining spot. Guess our secret viewing area is no longer a secret.  Following the parade there'd be local ball games and a chicken-q lunch cooked served in the ball park.

Anyhow, this is truly a small town parade which translates to maybe 20 minutes but perhaps a half hour if you spread the entries out. We'd have plenty of time to go the cemetery's noon Memorial service in town (La Crosse). We'd run to town and return in time to enjoy the chicken q with the community. 

The traditional blinking lights of a public service vehicle from Genoa, a neighboring town's firetruck started the parade. Stoddard  like Chaseburg no longer has a local law enforcement officer (translated policeman) and the County Mounty (County Sheriff) must have been in another town's parade.  

The color guard followed the firetruck and everybody stood in respect.

Six local vets filled the small trailer pulled by a truck behind them  

and our only band of the day the De Soto's High School's Marching Band followed not too far behind.

and of course there were the town's Scouts ... and one cub's bubble gum bounty got my interest and when I cupped my hands for him to toss me one, his sharp aim pelted Natureman in the side of the head. Oh dear, the kid's leader gave him a warning and I felt bad for both encouraging the Cub Scout to throw it and getting Natureman in the line of fire. Sorry.

Great viewing from the car seat

Other groups handing out candy included a parochial school and the local Lioness club. I have a fridge magnet of the Packer schedule in case any of you want one. 

There was even a mini bubble blower Red Flyer pulled by Dad.

 And what's a country parade without horses/horsepower? 

The main entries were the antique car club, The "Lasting Legends" group. Natureman filled me in on car stats as they passed.

Oh wait, that's the Party bus for Bachelors/ Bachelorette Parties

The town's volunteer firemen and their trucks finished up the parade. Yep, all volunteers. They have a spiffy new ATV vehicle addition now in addition to their fire vehicles. And some younger members too!  

Tootsie rolls seemed to be the candy of choice to hand out this year.  The kids next to us raked it in even being at the end of the parade route. They even offered to share. If you haven't ever experienced a small town parade, it's special.

We then had enough time to drive downtown for the cemetery memorial service where the Civil War Reenactors provided a 21 gun salute. That's always very moving.

A quick grocery store stop and we headed back to partake in the Stoddard Chicken-q. I was really looking forward to sitting with the locals. The ball game was in progress but there was not a soul in the pavilion eating. Natureman said they must not have had the chicken q this year.   I swear I had smelled chicken cooking earlier. Maybe it was for later, so I got out to go check at the food booth.

Would you believe they had sold out by ten to noon to be exact? In other words 300 cooked chickens were sold and devoured between the time the parade ended and our return. Bummer. For those that aren't familiar with a chicken q, it's a half/quarter of a chicken served with slaw/potato salad, baked beans and a roll with butter. 

Hey, we midwesterners obviously love our chicken - q's. Home we headed to eat leftovers. It wasn't quite the same as sharing a picnic table but we had shared some community... and we had a big day as we would be leaving the End of the Rainbow Valley to go see our bonus granddaughter Haley in her middle school's musical Lion King Junior after dinner. It was a big day for us countryfolk. Wink, wink.