Parade in a Small Town
Last edited Thu Nov 11, 2021, 12:57 PM - Edit history (3)
I put together a small gif slideshow of 5 pics from a homecoming parade in Charleston, W.Va. that my father participated in sometime at the later end of the 40's. I think the mix of races in the crowd is fascinating. Dad told me that, on the way home after being shipped to New Guinea and back to the base out West, he had to change train cars on the rest of the way back home to Pennsylvania from the integrated train to the 'colored' rail line when they reached the segregated towns. This parade and the obviously interested crowd is also notable for the young folks who witnessed this fascinating and pretty unique (for the time) unit of black soldiers. I've always named the one photo with the single soldier strutting out in front 'Proud Soldier' for the one fellow's sense of pride and the apparent appreciation shown by the mix of residents of the town looking on . . .
(Dad, in stride, third photo)
= new reply since forum marked as read
are just like the ones my parents had and it was the parade route for us. Wonderful pics. Thanks for posting.
I wondered all night at work whether you'd been able to see them. It's probably the best way to view them as it gives the parade a sense of motion. I had them on a loop on my own computer and I wondered if the medium would transfer to the pages of DU (without much difficulty for viewers). Thanks for checking back in, JD! 
thank you so much for drawing my eyes to those details, bigtree!! PRECIOUS!!!
all of the folks there looking just enthralled with the sight
a moment in time when all were keeping sight of what really matters. someday they would be on the same side of the street
may i ask, are you a Writer? you have a great gift, bigtree!
thank you, again, more ....
