Making birthdays special, one parade at a time

Birthday parades seem to have become a “thing.”

The first one I heard about –– and participated in — was for Josh Nodine, who back on March 28th was supposed to be leaving on a Dream Factory trip to Walt Disney World. When that trip was put on hold, his mother decided to organize a birthday parade past their State Rd. house instead, for her son who loves vehicles of all kinds.

Despite a chilly spring rain, more than 170 cars and trucks and fire trucks and emergency vehicles drove by the house while Josh and his family stayed dry under a canopy, drivers and passengers all honking and waving. (I wrote a  blog about it, which you can read here.)

Just last weekend, another birthday parade was arranged for a young Plank North Elementary student who was turning 10. That one included representation from the Webster Volunteer Fire Department; American Legion Post 942 Veterans, Sons, and Auxiliary members; Legion Rider Post 942 members; friends, teachers and family members.

Then yesterday morning, The WWFD, Webster police department and other first responders were out and about again, this time brightening the day for four-year old Tristan in the Hightower Way neighborhood.

After the event, his dad Tim posted this on Facebook:

We moved to Webster in 2016, just before Tristan was born. He was diagnosed with a rare, life threatening disease later that year and underwent a bone marrow transplant in July of 2017. Today is his fourth birthday and this wonderful community and first responders came by this morning to honor our little warrior. What a wonderful and caring community we are so lucky to live in.

These events are special not only for the children involved, but for everyone else in the neighborhood as well, judging from this message I received from Colleen Marino after seeing yesterday morning’s parade:

Our neighborhood was just treated to a wonderful drive-by that included many police cars, trucks and emergency vehicles. What a treat! Thanks to all that participated! I don’t know who it was for but a great morale boost for the neighborhood!

Finally, I’ve heard about yet another parade scheduled for Tuesday April 28.

This one is being organized by the daughter of a woman turning 90 years old that day, and will be traveling down Ridge Rd. just east of the village. Plans are to organize everyone at Holy Trinity Church before noon, with plans to parade past the mother’s house at noon. I know the Webster fire department has been contacted, so this one will also include emergency vehicles.

You’ll want to keep an eye out for this Ridge Rd. parade, but you probably won’t need to put up your lawn chairs the night before.

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