The "Grande Old Flag" flew proudly over the 27th annual Boca Grande Woman's Club Island Fair parade March 17 with at last 40 entrants draped in stars and stripes.
Period costumes and decorated floats were the order of the day. The best example might have involved Ben, Claire and Grace Wikenheiser of Medicine Lake, Minn., who entertained spectators as Gen. George Washington, the U.S. bald eagle national emblem and the Status of Liberty, respectively.
The youngster's cute costumes, however, accented a fervent adult thank you banned on the golf cart to islanders for their support of Capt. Mark Cahill, who was injured on military duty last year and has since recovered. He is back with the Third Armored Cavalry in Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas., said Laine Jenkins of Boca Grande.
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From left: Ben, Claire and Grace Wikenheiser of Medicine Lake, Minn., entertained spectators as Gen. George Washington, the U.S. bald eagle national emblem and the Status of Liberty, respectively.
"We just really wanted to thank the community for their help last year," Jenkins said.
The event organized by Boca Grande Woman's Club co-chairs Mary Keevil and Penn Branin benefited from a perfect island day with sunny skies and temps climbing into the 80s moderated by a cooling spring breeze.
The parade rolled at 10:30 a.m. followed by two hours of fair fun at the community center with children's games, the famous bake sale, annual cake walk, book sale, hamburgers, hot dogs and plant sale.
Fact Box
Bike Path Parade winners
Best Group: The Aikens Family
Most Original: Adam, Grace and Anna Milne
Best Presentation of a Theme: The Bennetts
Best Bike: Isabella Steyer
Most Entertaining: Hugh Plumb
Most Creative (Green Theme): The Garden Club
Best of Show: Larry and Kitty Jenkins
Honorable Mention: The Pink Pony, Inn Krew, Taylor-Wheeler Family and Perry Mesloh.
Marjorie Webb, Boca Grande Woman's Club chair, was the parade's grand marshal.
A few Irish-themed paraders joined in, too, as the event fell on St. Patrick's Day.
