Griffiths to Serve as LHD Parade Marshals

CARSON AND BETTY TO LEAD OFF ANNUAL GJ PARADE

The parade committee for the Lincoln Highway Day Parade in Grand Junction is urging all area businesses, clubs, organizations and nonprofit groups to participate in the parade on Saturday, July 28, on Main Street in Grand Junction. The parade will begin at 11 a.m.

“Join us as we celebrate our Lincoln Highway heritage in Grand Junction and Greene County at our annual parade,” said a committee spokesperson. The parade is part of the annual Fun Day in Grand Junction which has been renamed Lincoln Highway Day.

Carson and Betty Griffith, longtime Grand Junction residents, will be honored as Grand Marshals of the Lincoln Highway Day parade.

The Griffiths moved to Grand Junction in 1960 when Carson became the vocal music teacher at East Greene. He retired several years ago after a long career teaching music at East Greene. He continues to be involved in musical activities locally and throughout the state. Betty was a beautician for several years, and later worked at the East Greene school junior high-elementary school in Rippey and at Royal Jewelers in Jefferson.

Carson is beloved among his many former students at East Greene where he was known as “Mr. G” and “Griff.” He was recently awarded the Impact Award given annually to a Greene County resident honored for his or her volunteer work. The Griffiths are active with the Elk’s Lodge in Jefferson and have been longtime members of First Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction. Betty is a member of Presbyterian Women, El Carim Club and serves as chairman of the Grand Junction Library Board of Trustees.

The Griffiths have two daughters, Kim Hartley and Kelley Bruns, and two grandchildren, Emily and Alyssa Hartley.

The Griffiths will lead off the parade which features the theme, “Locomoting Along the Lincoln Highway.” The theme focuses on transportation and movement. “Along with floats, we encourage all types of transportation such as motor homes, farm machinery, horse-drawn buggies, and classic antique cars and trucks to join us in the parade. Feel free to use your imagination!”

“We are also encouraging all classic car owners and enthusiasts to enter their vehicles in the parade and the classic car show in the afternoon along 12^th Street south of Hager Street,” said the spokesperson.

Lincoln Highway Day will also mark the grand opening of Lincoln Highway Association Building located in the former Watts Building at the corner of Main and 11^th Streets in Grand Junction. “Local members of LHA and members of Grand Junction Horizons will be putting out the welcome mat to Lincoln Highway enthusiasts, LHA members statewide, and classic are enthusiasts,” the spokesperson added.

The parade will also feature representatives from the fire departments participating in the Fire Department Water Fights, sponsored by Grand Junction Fire and Rescue. The water fights will be held on Main Street at 1 p.m.

A short reception in the foyer of First Presbyterian Church will held after right the parade to honor the Griffiths. “Alumni returning for the All-East Greene alumni on Lincoln Highway Day are encouraged to stop by and say hello to Carson and Betty,” said the spokesperson. “We want to encourage the alumni reunion classes to enter their own floats in the parade too.”

The All-East Greene Alumni event will be held at Ferg’s/My Tighes on U.S. Highway 30 and North 18^th Street with a dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. at cost of $7.50 and a reunion party from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a cash bar. Menus is pulled pork sandwich with two sides. An All-East Greene Alumni golf event is planned for 12:30 p.m. at Lakeside Golf Course at Grand Junction. Regular Lakeside fees apply.

Businesses and organizations interested in participating in the parade can contact a member of the parade committee by phone or email: Joyce Nelsen at 515-738-5430 or joyfullnana@iowatelecom.net, Pierre Kellogg at 515-370-1123 or firemanpjk@yahoo.com, and Alan Robinson at 515-738-2612 or eyeongj@gmail.com.