Parade Chair Readies for Brandon's 4th of July Celebration

Marie Cain was out and about in Brandon this week putting out signs that marked the traditional route for the Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade, which each year is presented through the efforts of the Community Roundtable.

Brandon Patch talked with Cain on June 28 to learn more about her efforts and this year's parade, which starts 10 a.m. July 4, with lineup beginning at 8 a.m. The parade is expected to finish by 1 p.m.

BRANDON PATCH: What made you want to chair the Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade?

• CAIN: It's one of the biggest family traditional events we have in Brandon. I enjoy watching children being happy when they see a parade. To me, that's what it's all about.

BRANDON PATCH: What's do you like best about about the parade?

• CAIN: Really, I don't get to see it much! I'm so busy making sure it runs smoothly. I just get excited when I see people on the floats, people from the sports groups and cheerleaders and Boy Scouts, watching people wave to them. To me, again, it's just a warm, fuzzy feeling, that people are out there doing this and other people are appreciating it.

BRANDON PATCH: Give us some particulars about this year's parade.

• CAIN: We have 34 floats, 110 units. We have active duty personnel form the MacDill Air Force Base, and Colonel Lenny Richoux will be in the parade with them. Our grand marshal is Jeremy Rosado, who was on this year's "American Idol" TV program. We'll have our new honorary mayor of Brandon, whoever it may be between B. Lee Elam and GayLynn Love. The Father of the Year will be there and this year's Nonprofit of the Year, A Kid's Place.

BRANDON PATCH: You're having some food trucks?

• CAIN: We started with a few last year and this year we're adding a few more. Some of them are Taco Bus, King's Bistro, Cuppcakes, Kona Ice, Ritter Donats, Florida SnoBiz and Holy Cow Kettle Corn.

BRANDON PATCH: What is the theme of this year's parade?

• CAIN: The theme is, "Pioneer Families," so there's a focus on people who have been here a long time and helped the town grow. Also, on places that have been in the town a long time.

BRANDON PATCH: What is the parade route, same as usual?

• CAIN: The route starts at Lumsden and Parsons, heads north on Parsons, turns west on Robertson, crosses over Kings and ends up in the parking lot of the Publix and Burlington Coat [anchored] shopping center. The reviewing stand is on Robertson, across from the Brandon Regional Hospital, and in front of the [strip shopping] center that has Nature's Health Foods and the Copper Bell Cafe. This is the first year we'll have VIP seating, beside the grandstand. Some of the past honorary mayors will be there along with the family members of parade sponsors.

BRANDON PATCH: What are some rules to follow?

• CAIN: Water guns are not permitted in the parade this year, for safety reasons. People aren't supposed to throw candy or beads. They can have people walk alongside the parade to give out these things.

BRANDON PATCH: You're also president of the local chapter of Gold Star Wives, an organization for the widows of war. Your husband and two children died because of Agent Orange exposure your husband had in Vietnam. What to you is the significance of the parade as a patriotic endeavor?

• CAIN: I just think people should be remembered and generations should be taught what our country is built upon and it's built upon people having sacrificed, including those who are deceased or disabled because of service. It's very important to honor our military and our veterans, which this parade helps to do.