Patriotic feel to grace the big parade Saturday

The Festival of States' main event will feature a war hero, U.S. Naval Academy's Cadet Drum & Bugle Corps, and descendants of black soldiers.

By MELANIE AVE

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 9, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Patriotism and pride will characterize the 79th annual Festival of States parade Saturday, when a war veteran who has received the nation's highest military honor serves as grand marshal.

Medal of Honor winner William R. Charette, a Korean War veteran from Lake Wales, will lead the parade that is the highlight of the two-week-long festival, which ends Sunday. The TradeWinds Resort Parade begins at 9:50 a.m. Saturday at Eighth Street and Central Avenue and travels east on Central to Bayshore Drive and ends at Vinoy Park.

The two-hour parade will be televised on Bay News 9.

Charette received the medal -- given by Congress to members of the armed service who risk their lives in combat beyond the call of duty -- for his heroism during the battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as the Frozen Chosin.

"Charette repeatedly and unhesitatingly moved about through a murderous barrage of hostile small-arms and mortar fire to render assistance to his wounded comrades," according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. "When an enemy grenade landed within a few feet of a Marine he was attending, he immediately threw himself upon the stricken man and absorbed the entire concussion of the deadly missile with his body."

The U.S. Navy retiree is one of 148 living winners of the honor, which has been awarded to about 3,400 people since the 1800s, according to the society.

The Festival of States wanted to recognize Charette in an attempt to increase veterans' participation in the annual parade, said Malcolm King, festival executive director.

"We wanted to have a little bit of a patriotic salute," he said.

Called "Music, Memories and a New Millennium," the parade also will feature the U.S. Naval Academy's Cadet Drum & Bugle Corps and the Buffalo Soldiers, descendants of the Ninth and 10th Calvary Regiments, two of four African-American units formed after the Civil War that played a major role in the history of the American frontier.

This is the first time the Buffalo Soldiers will march in the Festival of States parade, King said. Members of the group's only Florida chapter, in Tampa, are participating.

The 1-mile parade will feature 116 groups of floats, bands and horses, including the U.S. Naval Academy's Cadet Drum & Bugle Corps, the popular Second Time Arounders, nationally recognized Miami Central High School marching band, the Winter Haven Community Band Marching Wolverines and the Pueblo County (Colo.) High School band, the only out-of-state marching band in the festival.

This is the second year for the parade's new route on Central Avenue. It was returned to its original route last year to lengthen the parade and return it to the path it followed years ago when it was one of the largest tourist attractions in Pinellas County.

For the best view of the parade, spectators are encouraged to sit or stand along Central Avenue east of Sixth Street or on Bayshore Drive in north or south Straub Park.

King encourages watchers to wear sunscreen and to "come early and have a good time."

Limited bleacher seating is available for $6 per person between Central Avenue and Second Avenue N on Bayshore Drive.

The Festival of States, which has its roots in the 1896 George Washington Day parade, is organized by the Suncoasters, a volunteer group of men and women.

For more information, call the festival office at 898-3654.

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