Christmas Parade offers gifts not placed under tree
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She would begin with a 16-foot trailer and convert it to a cruise ship. Its name would be "Santa's Cruise Line," with the motto, "Come cruise with Santa."
A local Girl Scout group leader, Hogan is designing a float for the annual Oakland Christmas Parade, which will begin at 11 a.m. tomorrow.Although the group had not yet begun work on the float early this week, the Girl Scout leader was not worried. She was confident that everything would come together in time.
"God will always take care of what needs to be taken care of," she said with an unmistakable ease in her voice. "We all want to be kids, especially around Christmas.
"Who outgrows Christmas?" she asked. "We want the children to experience Christmas to the fullest."
At Christmastime, not without reason, Hogan expresses a special interest in the children's experience. Her two sons were each born with a rare, usually fatal disease known as Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, an immune-deficiency disorder. If it had not been for stem-cell transplants donated by her husband and a citizen of Germany, her two sons might not have made it.
Last year, local resident Linda Barton observed the parade as a bystander, but she felt something was missing. There was no depiction of Christ in it.
Barton said she is not against Santa. In fact, she doesn't mind if her own children believe in him. She does not speak bitterly against the traditional, secular holiday figures.
As a member of Oakland's Warren Community Church, Barton, like Hogan, expresses gratitude for a powerful gift that she can't fit under a tree.
"We are concerned that people understand that Christ is the true gift of Christmas." she said.
Barton spoke with the church's leaders.
"We decided we were going to make sure there was (a depiction) this year," she noted. "We want to make a difference in the community."
Her church began the project more than six weeks ago, and volunteers dedicated their free time, resources and abilities. Some of the costumes are handmade, and there are colossal, painted, cardboard presents-props that are taller than a grown man's body.
This year, Warren Community Church and Oakland First Baptist Church worked together to present a three-float ensemble titled, "The Greatest Gift of All." The trio begins with the story of a child, born in a stable on Christmas Day, who grows up to be the savior of the world.
Robin Terry, executive director of the Oakland Regional Chamber of Commerce, said there is no formal parade director.
"Santa would be considered our Grand Marshal," she remarked with a grin.
More than 15 parties, including small businesses, churches and philanthropic organizations, are registered to participate.
The annual parade is expected to draw a large crowd. Beginning at Oakland Elementary School, it will proceed west onto Highway 64 and then to Oakland's newest stoplight at Chickasaw Ridge Drive.
Terry indicated that the parade route is designated by the police department. "We just don't have an ideal setup for a parade route," she acknowledged. "It is something we generally have a real good turnout for and good support. It's fun."
Police Chief Bob Tisdale has monitored the traffic and the safety of the parade for 11 years. Acknowledging that it is "probably 10 times longer" than in its earliest years, with all the growth the city has experienced, he said it is "a lot bigger parade," with a lot more spectators.
That means more participants who, like the Girl Scout leader and the church member, each have their own story; more colorful floats; choreographed performances that reveal the Christmas spirit; jovial acts of kindness, like hugs and candy-throwing; genuine smiles from children and jolly laughter from grown-ups.
And among everyone, there will be a subtle awareness of gifts seen and unseen-another genuine gift in a small-town Christmas parade.
