Elizabethtown, NC- The floats passed, the beauty queens waved, and the politicians tossed candy to eager children Saturday in Elizabethtown at the 27th annual parade honoring the birthday of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On a sunshine-filled day and with the temperature in the mid-50s, several hundred people gathered along Broad Street and Poplar Street to watch the cavalcade take nearly 90 minutes to complete, from the blue-lighted car driven by Elizabethtown Police Chief Bobby Kinlaw in the beginning to emergency vehicles at the end.
In between, there were classic cars of all types, more than 200 motorcycles, baton twirlers, marching units, businesses, community groups, and churches represented in what may have been the longest parade in the event’s history.
After the parade, a community meal was served at Big Show Auto Finish and at Cape Fear Masonic Lodge 300. Also, the Bladen Ministerial Association and the Bladen Presbyterian Parish Council held an observance at Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church with Antonio M.K. Lawrence of Rocky Mount, who is special assistant to the pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Goldsboro, as guest speaker.
For parade photos, visit Bladen Online’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BladenOnline.
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