Dillons to serve as parade grand marshals

The annual event will take place Saturday, Dec. 1. The grand marshals are county historian James Dillon and Mrs. Dillon.

Leadership Warren president Larry Flatt said Dillon is the perfect choice, considering his extensive research into Warren County history.

‘Leadership Warren is excited our county historian James Dillon and Mrs. Dillon have accepted our invitation to be grand marshals of this special parade honoring 200 years of Christmas in Warren County,’ Flatt said. ‘Mr. Dillon is well known for his keen knowledge of our county’s history and for his willingness to share that knowledge with our citizens. This will give all of Warren County an opportunity to thank Mr. Dillon for the many years he has given of his time and talents to help us recognize our special heritage.’

Dillon says he was pleasantly surprised at the invitation and both he and his wife, Sammye, are glad to participate. But he did add he was uncharacteristically speechless.

‘I was so overwhelmed I just didn’t know what to say,’ Dillon said. ‘But I am proud to do it.’

Dillon says celebrating Christmases past is a wonderful idea, and he has a particular memento he plans to incorporate as grand marshal, as he told County Executive John Pelham.

‘I have an awful lot of Christmases that I remember so well,’ Dillon said. ‘I told John that 55 years ago this year at Christmas I was in Korea, and I’ve still got my cap that I wore under my steel pod and I’m going to wear that.’

Leadership Warren encourages all of Warren County to participate in this year’s parade.

‘We would like to have 200 entries to coincide with our celebration of 200 years of history. An entry can be as simple as a group of individuals who would like to walk in period costume, to a horse-drawn carriage, all the way to a decorated float,’ Flatt said. ‘This theme will lend itself to a lot of creative entries since groups and individuals can spotlight any era in our history from pioneer times to the present as we honor 200 years of Christmas in Warren County.’

The city of McMinnville is once again sponsoring the parade and cash prizes for winning entries will be awarded. Entry blanks for the parade will be available soon and sign-up dates for the parade will be announced in the near future.