It’s hard to believe that the “Christmas to Remember” parade is now in its 15th year. I’m proud to say that our company, Snyder Communications, has been a driving force (along with numerous downtown merchants and other benefactors) behind this annual holiday tradition for a decade and a half. That’s due largely to the generosity of my boss, Dick Snyder, but perhaps more importantly to the unofficial parade marshal, our own Linda Green. How she manages to wrangle the scores of marching units, floats and firetrucks in this spectacle year after year (and moving along in order, and on time) is beyond me. I’d be remiss, of course, if I didn’t also mention the tireless efforts of the legions of volunteers who help pull it all off – it really is a community effort.

I’m also proud to say that I’ve been involved in the Christmas parade for each of its 15 years, too – although my participation has literally run the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime. When the parade was in its infancy, and still held on the Friday morning after Thanksgiving, my trusty Evening Sun staff and I went through the first few years serving as what Linda always referred to as “costumed characters.” Sounds good on paper – wear a fun, professional costume, walk down the street, and bask in the adoration of the crowd. After doing that once or twice, we quickly learned that what looks good on paper seldom is in practice.