The rain held off until the end of the 73rd Labor Day Parade presented by the Noon Exchange Club of Garland Monday, Sept. 3. Garland’s Mayor Lori Dodson, City Council members and a group of Boy Scouts, all carrying flags, led the parade through historic downtown Garland.
High school bands, drill teams and cheerleaders were joined by younger sports teams and cheer squads and more scouting troops. Others joining in the fun were political candidates, Shriners’ musicians and clowns on scooters, service organizations, churches and
more. The Garland Fire and Police departments were represented as well.
The community is grateful that the Noon Exchange Club of Garland was willing to take on responsibility for the parade in 2012 when the Jaycees could no longer do it. The parade and the activities held after it require an overwhelming amount of work and Exchange has done a wonderful job continuing the longtime tradition of Garland’s Labor Day festivities. Thank you.
And a sincere thank you to the Jaycees who started the Labor Day Parade tradition in 1945. Sixty-seven years is a long time to present this event, which in the past included a four-day carnival at Central Park. Evidence of the year of the parade’s beginning is a transcript of a news script from 1959 that refers to the 1959 event as the “14th annual” parade. Click here to read the document which is the “*script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, covering a news story about the 14th annual Jaycee Jubilee in
Garland.”
Photos courtesy of Mark Harkins
About Noon Exchange Club: The Noon Exchange Club of Garland is affiliated with the National Exchange Club. There are clubs t
hroughout the United States and Puerto Rico. For more than 100 years, Exchange Club members have been serving their communities.
As stated on their website:
“Noon Exchange Club of Garland is a premier service club of men and women who are dedicated to serving the community and enjoy the opportunity to develop leadership skills, meet new people, forge lasting friendships and make the community a better place for all to live.
Community Service – Noon Exchange Club members give countless hours to help the community. The organization offers assistance to numerous organizations and individuals through programs of service.
Youth Programs – Noon Exchange supports local youth through scholarships, mentoring, sponsorships and guidance. Exchange is making a difference in our future generation.
Child Abuse Prevention – Exchange provides a variety of public awareness materials designed to help inform and increase awareness of child abuse and how it can be prevented.
Americanism – Exchange promotes pride in our country, appreciation for the freedoms granted to American citizens, and gratitude to the men and women who serve and have served in the Armed Forces.”
* [News Script: Garland Jaycee], item,September 7, 1959; (digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc861108/: accessed September 8, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, Digital Library, digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.