Glory Days event today in Menlo

By Jimmy Espy

Correspondent

MENLO, Ga. -- Menlo residents will take to the streets today to enjoy the town's annual Lions Club Glory Days Parade and Barbecue.

Glory Days has been a tradition for so long that even some old-timers have a hard time placing its origins. Lions' Club president Malcom Birge remembers the event from when he was a teenager.

"They've been doing it as long as I have been here, and that's 24 years," said Mr. Birge, one of the event's organizers. "It's one of our club's two big events, along with our rodeo in the fall."

While the event has been ongoing, the parade had faded and was brought back six years ago, according to Lions Club member Sid Swords.

"We were looking through some old pictures of Glory Days and we saw some of the parade," said Mr. Swords, a 28-year member of the charitable club. "They had done a parade for many years, and then for some reason they quit for a long time. But we wanted to pick up the pace a little so we brought it back.

IF YOU GOWhat: Lions Club Glory Days Parade and BarbecueWhen: 10 a.m. Saturday at Menlo City Park, 11 a.m. parade start from the old Menlo SchoolCost: Free to attend, barbecue lunch available from noon-2 p.m. for $7 a plate.Source: Lions Club

"That first year I was very nervous," he remembered. "We're a small town and I was afraid all we would have was one horse and one donkey. But when we got downtown and I saw all the people -- it was the most people I had ever seen in Menlo -- I was feeling pretty good. I know it made the Lions Club members very proud."

Mr. Swords helps put together Glory Days every year. One of his main contributions is providing the barbecue sauce. He'll whip up 30 gallons of the stuff, which is made from a secret recipe handed down to him by the late J.P. Thornberry of Menlo.

"About eight or nine years ago he came to me and said he was too old to do it any more and that he was passing the torch on to me," Mr. Swords said. "He gave me the secret recipe and told me to guard it carefully."

The Menlo Recreation Department will provide several options for youngsters at Menlo City Park, including a Jumping Gym and a water slide. A single ticket will cover the cost of playing on the equipment, with proceeds going for city recreation programs.

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