Street fair parade to honor local generations

Taking inspiration from an upcoming exhibit at the National Winston Churchill Museum, Fulton Street Fair organizers have selected America's Greatest Generation as the theme for its grand parade on June 16.

"Part of it has to do with patriotism, and with the exhibit at the Churchill Memorial, we thought it would be a nice tie-in," said parade coordinator Sharon Mather.

The selection of the grand marshal also is tied into the theme. Rather than one representative of the "Greatest Generation," the parade committee has decided to select six grand marshals - one representing each of the six current generations: 1901-1924, 1925-1964, 1965-1980, 1981-1999 and 2000-2012.

"We're acknowledging that all of our generations are great in some way," said Street Fair Committee member Melissa Siegel.

Siegel said the committee still is awaiting confirmation from several of the individuals selected to represent their generation. An announcement of the grand marshals will be made at a later date.

Mather said the prizes have been changed this year as well, with a $150 cash prize to be awarded for the Grand Marshal Award for the best overall entry, the Woods Award for best theme depiction and C.J.'s Spirit Award.

"We would love to have more entries," she said.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.