Saturday, February 14, 2015

Millbrook Mardi Gras Parade

The Prattville Dragoons, SCV Camp 1524 participated in the Millbrook Revelers annual Mardi Gras parade on Saturday, February 7th.  The Dragoons had a wonderful entry including a golf cart decorated with Mardi Gras purple, green and gold tinsel and beads and of course Confederate Battle flags.  The cart was driven by Commander Waldo's son and Mrs. Waldo in her period gown and the two little Confederate Waldos also rode.  Danny Smyth pulled a trailer with his truck and the trailer was turned into a grand float with more Mardi Gras tinsel and decorative cut-outs along with the camp's U.S., Alabama state, Confederate 3rd National and Battle flags on each corner of the trailer and more smaller flags including the Bonnie Blue flanking each side.  But the centerpiece was Danny's period replica cannon which was adorned with huge festive Mardi Gras beads.  Sue Spears elicited an exclamation of "a princess" from one little girl along the parade route as she waved to the crowd from the float adorned in her lovely period gown.  Comm Officer Larry Spears walked along with Quartermaster Bill Myrick and hs wife Peggy.  Larry's father and World War II veteran James Spears carried the camp banner along with Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, walking the entire parade, over a mile.  Special thanks to the Adjutant for making a run from Mill Creek Park to get the banner which was left behind before the parade. Color Sgt Brent Jenks and his father George also walked and wore their sharp matching SCV Camp 1524 grey oxford shirts.  Dave Thompson made it just in the nick of time as we were pulling out of Mill Creek and his significant other waved a pair of mini-Battle flags all the way down Main Street sitting on the float.  Bags of candy, hundreds of Battle flags and SCV coins and a hundred moon pies proved to be scant provisions to toss to the thousands of spectators lining Main Street of Millbrook.  The parade started at Mill Creek Park and ran north on Main Street to Coosada Road past the Village Green Park where the festival was set up.  A reviewing stand was set up at Village Green and the crowd was five and six deep along the road there.  The Millbrook Mardi Gras parade is billed as the largest such parade north of Mobile AL where Mardi Gras actually originated.  A wonderful enjoyable event allowing the Dragoons to show off their Southern pride, Southern belles, and beautiful Confederate flags on a beautiful crisp February winter afternoon.
Larry and Sue Spears in Period Dress

Cannon Festooned with Mardi Gras Beads

WWII Vet James Spears and Danny Smyth

Kerri in her Period Gown Riding in the Cart

George and Brent Jenks Looking Sharp

Quartermaster Myrick Before the Parade

All the Dragoons and Family

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