Salute to Santa Parade

December 17, 2019

The Salute to Santa Parade began at 11:00 a.m. on November 22, 2019., at the corner of 5th and Market Street, near the Discover McKeesport building in McKeesport. This was the 55th year for the parade. 

The parade marshal wearing a Santa Claus hat led the parade, followed by four mounted policewomen. An Army honor guard followed. Then a motorcycle police escort. Then two city police cars began our fair city’s parade. 

We were also honored by our Mayor Mike Cherepko, who walked in the parade, and Representative Austin Davis, as his staff car followed along. Paraders threw candy to the parade goers standing on the sidewalk. I picked up a few pieces of candy myself to eat.

The people lined both sides of 5th Avenue, dressed in winter clothing. The weather was nice, but chilly although the sun was shining. Everyone seemed happy and cheered or applauded as they began to see the floats coming up the street. 

Senator Jim Brewster and his staff rode in the back of a Chevrolet pickup truck as he threw candy to the parade goers. The Carnegie Library of McKeesport presented their “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” float in celebration of the book’s 50th Anniversary.

The float was colorfuly decorated with pine trees and kids. Program director Mary Rose Bendel led the float by wearing a lovely butterfly costume. I complimented her on the costume and asked her what it meant. She said, “The caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly.” 

Jim Heatherington and his wife sat riding quite comfortably on a leather upholstered car seat in one their six antique Ford cars built between the years of 1928 and 1931.

They are members of the 3 Rivers Ford Model A Club. They were fine cars to look upon. A clown drove one of the cars and another one had a Steelers’ decal on the front. Each car was beautifully decorated with a pine Christmas wreath.

I saw Nittany the Lion, the Penn State mascot, walking beside the round Eat’n Park Smiley cookie. One little boy ran up to the Smiley cookie and gave it a hug.

Trumpets, drums, trombones sounded. The marching feet of the McKeesport Area High School 

Band came down the street. Their excellent horn section played Angels We Have Heard on High.

They wore well fitted navy blue jackets with silver buttons and pants, and tall hats with beautiful plumes. Feathers and straps fitted around the chin. ReShawna Mackson was one of the flutists who played Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Parade goers were also enchanted by the McKeesport Area High School Band’s sweet strains of Handel’s Messiah.

There was something for everyone. People wore winter clothing on a fall day. A bright red Fire Commander truck rode down the street and Woody, the cowboy from Toy Story, dressed in fancy cowboy boots waved to everybody. The McKeesport Little Theater’s float promoted their upcoming live radio production of It’s A Wonderful Life. 

There were many youth groups, such as the Men of Valor Youth Group, The Boys and Girls Club Marching Group, the Black Berets of McKeesport all dressed in Santa Claus outfits with their director Helene Philips dancing along to a marching beat of the drummers. Twin Rivers McKeesport School and the Penn State University of Greater Allegheny also appeared in the parade.

Other groups included the McKeesport Little Tigers Football Youth, the Girl Scouts of Pennsylvania, South Allegheny parade walkers, and the Christian Park United Methodist Church’s Kids Kitchen float. 

Other organizations with floats or vehicle in the parade were: The Mon Valley Independent Newspaper float, the McKeesport Housing Authority, the McKeesport Regional History and Heritage of the Mon Valley Museum, Tube City Online, Puzzler’s Restaurant, U.S. Army truck, and Big’s Sanitation. Port Vue and Glassport police cars, ambulances and the McKeesport Fire Department were sounding off lots of sirens.

Everyone was smiling.

Fire trucks from several companies – Tube City Fire, Monroeville, East McKeesport, Elizabeth Township and the United Volunteer Fire and Rescue – made their way down 5th Avenue. Liberty Borough Fire Department presented their bright red fire trucks at the end of the parade.  If I missed the names of any of the groups, please know that everyone was glad to see your float in the parade. 

Some of our city’s families were at the parade and had only nice things to say about it.  

Delores Simpson said, “We come every year, and it is a nice family event.”  La Miah Allen, age 9, said, “It was amazing!” Calvin, age 7, said, “I liked the candy!”

Longtime McKeesport resident Misty Williams and her daughter Amanda said, “It was nice to see the parade, and that families were a part of it.” An elderly resident Yvette Roth who was born and raised in McKeesport as well as a 1965 graduate of McKeesport Area High School said, “It was nicely put together.” I agreed with her.

Near the end of the parade, I believe that Santa Claus was riding on a fire truck. I missed seeing him because I was talking with one of the parade goers. I also thought that he would ride into our city on a reindeer.

Sorry, Santa. I guess I’ll have to wait until next year to see you.

Following the parade, a Community Christmas Dinner for all the kids, parents and people who were at the parade was given by the Palisades Hall in McKeesport. The stage was decorated with yellow and green Christmas lights, with even more lights hanging from the ceiling.

Amid the shouts of children who wanted to see Santa Claus, lines of children and their parents began to form around the room. Everyone received a bag lunch with a hot dog, orange juice and a Smiley cookie, which we enjoyed while we waited for the festivities to begin.

I then asked Mayor Cherepko what he thought about the whole event and he said,“ Everything was great! Looking forward to kicking off the holiday season.”

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome,” Cherepko said to start the event. He introduced the parade volunteers and his staff. He then announced the name of the Santa Queen 2019, Danielle List, a McKeesport Area High School cheerleader. She was crowned with a diamond tiara and given a bouquet of red roses. I spoke with her and asked how she felt and she said, “It feels good to be queen!”  

Another lucky winner won a Thanksgiving Dinner sponsored by a group that donates clothing to cancer survivors.

Mayor Cherepko announced, “For those who want to visit our special visitor. Please make two lines.”

We all counted 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

“Here he is, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s give it up for Santa Claus,” the mayor said.

Suddenly, I heard a big applause. Moms and dads lined up again with their children, so their children could sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. I only saw smiles on their faces. Afterwards, each child received a toy duck wearing a Santa Claus hat.

I asked Santa Claus if he had a few words he wanted to say and he said, “Ho! Ho! Ho!”

Hundreds of children came to the Palisades Hall to see Santa Claus. I say, “Who says that kids don’t believe in Santa Claus?” I still do. Merry Christmas!

- Colette Funches