The death of Morgan Township volunteer firefighter Jimmy Polarek over the weekend was recognized but didn’t dominate this year’s Malden Labor Day parade.
“A few of the cars had signs” with Polarek’s badge number, Malden farmer Bill Bohling noted. “That’s how this community is,” Bohling said. “It sticks together.”
Bohling parked at the grain elevator on Indiana 49 where he does business every year.
“It’s always real nice,” he said of the parade. “It’s a hometown kind of thing.”
Mary Collins, of Kouts, persuaded her husband to bring her to the parade.
“I think I was here for the first parade,” she said. “The first year was fun. It was tractors” and a short parade. It’s grown over the years.
Collins remembers having the best seats for the parade. “We sat in front of the police cars, and the tractors came right at you,” she said.
“Everybody’s been trying to make me happy this year,” Collins said, because of her brain surgery to remove a malignant tumor. She’s finishing up her radiation treatments and starts chemotherapy soon.
She said her husband wasn’t thrilled about attending the parade, but she loves parades. “It’s better than going to Lowell,” the other nearby Labor Day parade, Mary said. “That parade lasts forever.”
Amy Collins, their youngest daughter, brought a bag to catch candy, her favorite part of the parade. That’s a familiar refrain.
Alyse Statzer, of Valparaiso, was similarly prepared.
Sister Alena Statzer will be in the Chesterton High School homecoming parade later this month as a member of the volleyball team. “I like the bands,” she said. “That’s my favorite part.”
“We’ve been coming for 10 years,” said their grandfather, Michael Vargas, of Portage. “We enjoy it, a day out with the family. They’re always so busy with school and activities.”
Morgan Township High School band director Darren Day acknowledged the perfect weather for the parade. The spectators clearly appreciated the band. “This is our hometown crowd,” he said.
School started not long ago, but the band was ready to play while marching in the parade. “We do a band camp in July,” he said. “We rehearse for it during the school day.”
Savannah Oder, of Hebron, rode on a fire department vehicle. “There’s a lot of people,” she said. Throwing candy to the kids was fun.
Jon Pearson, of Hebron, and Bee Martin, of Rensselaer, tooled around in the front seats of a 1929 Model A car. Martin thought the experience was awesome. “It’s my first boyfriend, from 1957,” she said.
Dennis Seramur, of Valparaiso, drove a military surplus motorcycle with a sidecar. “They used it in the China, India, Burma theater in World War II,” he said.
Brandon Sands, of Valparaiso, drove a tractor. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the parade,” he said. “It’s awesome to see everybody here and getting back with the community.”
Al Watts, of Malden, drove a 1969 International Cub Cadet lawn tractor, pulling his kids Bennett and Albert astride their own small tractors on a wagon Dad pulled.
“Is there anything better” than the Malden parade, he asked.
Delaney Filbert, of Kouts, appreciated all the parade entries. “It was wonderful. It is every year. They do such a good job,” she said.
“The bands were amazing. The kids did such a good job,” she said. The crowds were polite and respectful, too, she added.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
