Last year, the city of Camden hosted its first Memorial Day Parade to provide patriotic entertainment and to pay homage to the men and women who lost their lives in military service. Immediately after the conclusion of the first parade, Ed and Debi Winters were more than excited to prepare for the events of this year's Memorial Day Weekend. They took everything that made the parade last year significant and turned it up another level.
The result of this past Saturday's Memorial Day Parade in downtown Camden resulted in a much bigger turnout, more cars and floats and more special guests who came to the patriotic and enjoyable parade. Among the guests that came this year to watch the event and speak to the crowd were State Senator Matt Stone, Camden Mayor Charlotte Young, Oauchita County Judge Robert McAdoo and Camden Fairview High School student Dorian Rice. Rice gave her written speech in front of the crowd after winning the school's written essay contest on what Memorial Day means to them.
Among the participants in the floats in the parade were the Camden Police Department, the Camden Fire Department and Miss Arkansas contestants Gabby Tidwell and Hope Hesterly. Miss Tidwell (Miss Henderson State) and Miss Hesterly (Miss SAU), who are both natives of Camden, are set to be contestants in the Miss Arkansas pageant on starting on Saturday, July 3.
Still, the attention was focused on the veterans, who were in attendance that day, as well as those who were not able to be. After the conclusion of the parade, the crowd gathered at the Ouachita County Courthouse for the special service and recognition of the fallen men and women in the military.
The ceremony started with a word of prayer from Thrive Church pastor Mark Smith followed by the presentation of colors by Ouachita County Veterans Affairs Officer Jim Bob Davis. Thrive Church member Brandy Morris went next to the mic to sing the National Anthem. Mayor Young and Judge McAdoo then proceeded to lay the ceremonial wreaths in front of the memorial monument at the county courthouse.
Camden Fairview High School principal Cara Bowie introduced the first speaker of the ceremony, Miss Dorian Rice, who gave her minute-long essay that was applauded by the crowd. Afterward, Senator Stone talked about his appreciation to the individuals of Camden who made this parade happen and the importance of service and honor to those who gave their lives for this country.
The final two speakers of the ceremony were Judge McAdoo and Mayor Young, who shared her personal story of Memorial Day.
"This is about those that never take the uniform off. We will remember them, and we will remember the families," Mayor Young said in her speech, "it's very emotional to me because when I laid that wreath at that monument, it was in front of my uncle's name that was a POW in World War II."
After Mayor Young gave her personal speech, Ed Winters went to the podium to give his appreciation to those who participated in the parade andthe crowd who gathered. He even shared that will start working on plans for next year's Memorial Day Parade.
"This parade was bigger than the last year. This crowd is bigger than last year," Winters said in his speech, "and come Tuesday, I assure you that we will work every night for next year's parade."
He also shared one last announcement before the conclusion of the ceremony and the beginning of the Food Truck Festival. He announced to the crowd that the city and several organizations plans to build a Memorial Park diagonally across the street from the courthouse where the old library used to stand.
People were able to buy bricks during the Food Truck Festival that would have the name of military service men and women who gave their lives for this country. The brick would include the name and rank of those individuals. The memorial park project is set to be completed in two years.
"I think the parade was awesome," Mayor Young said of the Parade, "alderman Winters and Debi have worked so hard for months on this parade, and I was happy to see how many turned out, not only to be in it but spectators all along the route that watched it."
Photo By: Michael Hanich A row of cars and floats in the 2023 Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 27.
Photo By: Michael Hanich Camden Fairview High School student Dorian Rice reads her written essay at the 2023 Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 27.
Photo By: Michael Hanich Ed Winters speaks to the crowd in the 2023 Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 27.
Photo By: Michael Hanich Arkansas Senator Matt Stone speaks to the audience at the 2023 Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 27.
Photo By: Michael Hanich Camden Mayor Charlotte Young and County Judge Robert McAdoo lays the ceremonial wreaths at the monument at the Ouachita County Courthouse.