With waving hands and warm smiles, LEAP ambassadors Brian Aldaco and Kaityln Tyra paraded the streets of Conroe, TX alongside Congressman Brady this past Saturday in the Go Texan 51st annual parade. Presented by the Houston Live Stock and Rodeo Show, the parade was a great way to demonstrate our pride of being a Texan. Positioned behind the float of Miss Moo (the quirky mascot of the Ladies Go Texan Committee) and in front of the Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce float, we walked through downtown Conroe holding banners and signs recognizing our current US Representative. Showcased in the parade were Conroe High School’s marching band, the Oak Ridge High School Air Force Junior ROTC, the whimsical Arabia Shrine cars, and other local community organizations.
We were among the only ones walking in the procession, and I will shamefully admit that at times we would hold up the rest of the motorcade. These moments of slight embarrassment, however, were all worth it when having in the parade and seeing children who are always happy at a parade. For at least in this blogger’s opinion, nothing matches the feeling of being part of town’s festive, patriotic spirit.
In this fashion of civic pride, we paraded around the Montgomery County Courthouse,, eventually turned to stand by the county’s Commissioner’s Court, and met the parade’s judging panel in front of Conroe Tower. While crossing this street it would have been nearly impossible for any participant to avert one’s gaze away from the distinctive Montgomery County logo, above West Davis Street.
This depiction, made up of the county’s outline decorated with the state’s flag and the line “Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag,” properly captured the spirit of the event. As spectators and participants of the parade, we all gathered on a Saturday evening to celebrate being a Texan and, in my own case, a member of Montgomery County. In assembling, all of us showed how proud we were of our Montgomery County heritage and our love for our Lone Star State.
The LEAP Center is a non-partisan group of students who are engaged in their communities.