High-stepping young people joined forces at the Armed Forces Day parade Friday to present one color guard and band made of seven schools.
“Yee-aay!” shouted Jennie Lamb as the unified band marched by her, playing “America the Beautiful.”
“It goes to show that all of these schools can come together to get a task done,” she said.
The band included students from Soddy-Daisy, East Hamilton, East Ridge, Ooltewah, Signal Mountain, Central and Red Bank schools, said Ms. Lamb, a Soddy-Daisy band booster.
The combined band and color guard was one of many attractions in the annual parade to honor veterans who have fought for the United States.
Lance Cpl. Cary Hann was among four Marine reservists who started the parade with a fleet of police on motorcycles paving the way for them.
Six-year-old Tyler Campbell marched and pumped his fist as the parade began. He was among hundreds of children and adults lining Market Street for the annual event.
“I like the soldiers,” he said.
Ooltewah High School’s Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps unit stepped in unison as a student chanted “left, right, left” and men from the U.S. Navy threw souvenir balls to spectators.
Several trucks drove by advocating the release of POWs, and EPB’s mascot, Dr. Shock, gave small flags to children while other children and adults on vehicles threw candy.
A crowd near the Loveman’s building started pumping their arms and chanting “Howard, Howard,” but more military marchers followed before the Howard School of Academics and Technology Band finally made it up the street.
Howard alumni Sabrina Franklin leaned off the curb with her cell phone to record the band.
First came majorettes and dancers, dressed in gold outfits and white boots and prancing down the street. They were followed by the high-hat drum major with white gloves, dipping his baton and body in unison as he turned to face the band. With a toot from his whistle, the band played, and flag girls in the back twirled their poles as the band marched.
Brenda Allen, of Chattanooga, watched with her children and grandchildren.
“The young people look so fantastic together,” she said. “They are so creative and, when younger children see they’re doing something positive, maybe it will rub off on them, too.”
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