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November 28, 2009

French family parade grand marshals

Up to 10,000 people expected; entry deadline extended

Vaishali Patel

One of Milledgeville’s largest annual events is still on schedule for another successful turnout, this year honoring the memory of a fallen native son.

The annual Exchange Club of Milledgeville Christmas parade is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 through the streets of downtown Milledgeville. Grand marshal for this year’s parade will be the family of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Alex French IV. French was a member of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this year.

“We thought it would be a great way to honor him. [The family is] really, really appreciative that we are honoring him this way,” said parade chairman Roc Patel.

For those who have yet to enter, the deadline for entries has been extended.

Patel, who has worked in the behind the scenes preparation and organization of the annual event for more than 10 years, said this year’s number of entries is down from previous years.

“So far there has been about 50 entries so we have quite a few to pick up. Normally there’s about 100 entrants,” Patel said. “It’s taking longer and it’s harder this year due to the economy, but we will still have a parade regardless.”

Patel said the deadline for parade entries is usually on Thanksgiving Day, but there always seems to be some dawdlers.

“There are always people that like to sign up last minute so the final deadline is now Dec. 2,” Patel said.

Entry fee for nonprofit, educational entities, civic clubs and churches is $50 and commercial entries are $90. Patel said the Exchange Club repays the community in full.

“All the money we raise goes back into the community for the prevention of child abuse,” Patel said.

The official route for the parade will begin behind the gates of Georgia Military College on South Jefferson Street. It will then take a right onto Franklin Street where it will head onto Elbert Street. From Elbert Street, the entrants will continue onto Hancock Street then take a left on Clarke Street. They will follow Clarke Street and return back to Franklin Street where the route will come to an end.

According to Patel, the downtown streets of the parade route will be crowded with more than 10,000 people. Weather forecasts predicts temperatures near 59 degrees with sunny skies, but Patel said if the state patrol informs him of snow or sleet, the parade will be canceled.

“It would be a good idea for people to start arriving around 12 or one o’clock in order to get a good spot,” Patel said.

The Exchange Club provides trophies for the Best Homemade Float, the Best Commercial Float and the Best Overall Float at the end of each year’s parade.

Last year, Jones County Fire Department Station 1 won for Best Homemade Float; Old Capitol Wrecker Service was awarded for Best Commercial Float; and Old Clinton Bar-B-Q won for Best Overall Float.

Georgia College’s Media Productions Resources will air the 2009 Milledgeville Christmas Parade on its

public access station Channel 4 soon after the event. GCSU will also offer the community DVDs of the event for purchase. Last-minute participants interested in entering the parade may do so by contacting Patel at (478) 452-2335.

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