The Department of Education must be given high praise for organising such a magnificent street parade on Friday, 27th May, when school children of all ages took to the streets of The Valley in the mid-morning hours to bring to life an array of the national orange, white, and blue for a colourful Anguilla Day Children’s Parade.
The streets of the Upper Valley were cordoned off to accommodate the display which comprised students from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, and pupils from the primary schools, as well as children from the island’s pre-schools. Creative themes, crafted by the various schools, were spangled throughout the route depicting scenes of Anguilla’s culture – and even some of Anguilla’s indigenous toys were displayed.
The procession featured, among many other attractions, a few Valley Primary School students who staged an imitation of an ole-time wedding – with all the trimmings like bridesmaids and groomsmen, parading along the entire route. The young ‘bride and groom’ looked well ‘spiffy’. He was dressed in a navy blue outfit – tuxedo and all – and she wore a cultural ‘kang-kang’ kind of bridal gown bearing a modest length train.
The parade was evidently not just for the children, but grownups, such as parents and supporting relatives of the children, who on hand to enjoy every moment of the excitement and fun. Each school had its own car in the lead, providing its own bass-driven “boom-box” music – to the delight of ‘di young people dem’ – the Anguilla way.
The Anguillian spoke with Education Officer, Mrs. Susan Smith after the parade and asked her to share her impressions. She said: “The parade was a spectacle of national pride. The children showcased the orange, white and blue and schools went above and beyond to depict aspects of our culture both then and now. We want to convey gratitude to all principals, teachers, students and parents for the role they played in making it a success.”
Principal of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Mrs. Rita Celestine Carty, also commented: “The Anguilla Schools Parade was a magnificent event. It was wonderful to see the varied interpretations of the theme ‘Anguilla: Then and Now’ by all the schools on the island.The ALHCS was pleased to participate and to showcase different elements of the School – past and present.The Parade came on the heels of the annual ALHCS Heritage Fest which was itself a great day at school – seeking as well to promote national pride which is indeed an important goal of education in Anguilla.”
After all, it was a school parade that showcased Anguilla’s heritage – our leaders of tomorrow in the youth of today. They manifested a spectacular array of colour and an awesome exhibit of the schools’ creativity with a sense of national pride.
