Perfect Afternoon For The Mermaid Festival Parade
NORTH WEBSTER — A fly-over by Parkview Samaritan Air Ambulance kicked off the 72nd Annual North Webster Mermaid Festival that featured over 70 entries and lasted just 60 minutes long.
No one could ask for more perfect weather for this year’s parade with sunshine and a cool breeze and occasional clouds. Thousands lined SR 13 to watch this year’s parade which featured emergency vehicles, floats, queen conveyances, cars, motorcycles, walking units and six marching bands.
Ethan Wright, Milford, kicked off this year’s parade with the singing of the National Anthem as the colors were posted by North Webster American Legion Post 253.
North Webster, Kosciusko County, Mentone, Warsaw, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Cromwell police departments participated in the parade, with North Webster/Tippecanoe Township and Turkey Creek Fire Territory representing the fire departments. North Webster EMS, Lutheran EMS and Parkview EMS were also parade participants.
Wawasee High School was once again the host band with other bands including Whitko Marching Pride, Emerald Alliance Bremen Marching Band, Spirit of Woodlan band, Marching Warrior Band from Westview Junior/Senior High School, Falcon Pride from John Glenn High School, Angola Marching Hornets from Angola High School and Warsaw High School Marching Tigers.
John Glenn took first place in the band competition followed by Angola and Bremen bands placing second and third respectively.
Entries in the parade included the Grand Marshall — Lions of District 25-G and the Citizen of the Year, Helen Leinbach. Other entries included the American Legion, including the Legion Riders, North Webster Cub Scouts Pack 3726, Girl Scout Troop No. 540, Elkhart Shrine Club, Syracuse Drum Core, Fort Wayne Corvette Club, Kosciusko County Democrats, Lions Karate, Miszpah Shrine Corvette Club and a number of area businesses.