WHEREAS
,
In 1967, the first parade was organized by the Greater Kensington String Band and held along Frankford Avenue to assist a young local girl in need of funds for medical treatment; and
WHEREAS
,
The parade was such an enormous hit with the local residents that it was decided to hold the parade annually in June as a tribute to Father’s Day; and
WHEREAS
,
In 1976, it was determined that the parade would be held the Sunday before Thanksgiving, in part to kick off the Christmas shopping season and light the Christmas ornaments adorning the avenue; and
WHEREAS
,
The parade has grown to include a variety of floats, food, marching bands from across the city, participants in various costumes, drill teams and dance groups, all coming together to celebrate community pride; and
WHEREAS
,
The grand finale of the procession has thrilled thousands of young boys and girls for twenty five years, as they, with Christmas wish lists in hand, anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus; and
WHEREAS
,
The parade is almost entirely funded by the local residents and the Mayfair Business Association, with no funding from large corporations; and
WHEREAS
,
Twenty five years since the first Thanksgiving march, the event has grown to become one of the largest annual parades in the city, and has been witnessed by almost three million people since its’ inception; and
WHEREAS
,
Sunday, November 19, 2000 will mark the Twenty Fifth Anniversary of the Thanksgiving Parade; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the Twenty Fifth anniversary of the Mayfair-Holmesburg Thanksgiving Parade, and recognize the hard work and dedication of the residents, businesses and the Greater Kensington String Band, who have assisted in making this event a tremendous success.
FURTHER RESOLVED
,
That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Gary Cozens, Chairman of the Mayfair-Holmesburg Parade Committee, and James “Charlie” Murray, Grand Marshal, as evidence of this legislative action.
End