COLUMN: Lincoln Days - cold or hot - warms the heart

The 36th annual Lincoln Days Festival was deceptively chilly on Saturday: blue skies and sunshine with a tendency to turn cold and windy. It made for a slight crowd Saturday morning, but as expected, hundreds of people poured into town just before the parade.
It warmed up on Sunday afternoon – and the crowds turned out in force again.
As always, the entertainment was top notch and there were plenty of activities for the family. And, it’s good to see old friends and catch up on news – the birth of new grandchildren, retirements and job changes.
For me, the best part of the festival was a visit from my daughter Amanda, her husband Adam and my three granddaughters.
They enjoyed the parade but had many comments to make about the absence of “pooper scoopers” who usually walk behind the horses. Apparently, in Lexington, it is a coveted spot in the parade.
About that time, the parade was over and Adam began commenting on the number of people who were wearing boots. He’s from Birmingham – so he usually has questions about the way we do things.
The next thing you know, he had stepped in what appeared to be the only pile of horse poo on Lincoln Boulevard. That green stuff didn’t look very good on his white tennis shoes.
“The boots – that’s why,” Amanda said.
I guess we know what to get him for Christmas.
I don’t usually single out a specific entry in the parade. But this year, I thought Nationwide Uniform deserved a kudo.
Employees walked the parade route dressed in the military and emergency services uniforms they have created on their jobs.
Nationwide is celebrating its 50th year in our community. They picked a great way to showcase their “Made in America” product.
Another personal favorite is the tractor show. I like the older model Fords – they remind me of the one my dad owned.
I got a kick out of the little old lady doll riding her own tractor on a trailer behind Charles Stults’ tractor. She was positioned so it looked like she was “moving out fast.”
As always, many thanks to the Lincoln Days Committee for another great year. They’ve certainly earned a rest.

Linda Ireland

Nationwide Uniform employees walked in the Lincoln Days Parade, modeling the uniforms they make in the factory.

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