Yesterday morning (25 June), I drove to downtown St. Louis and parked in the Stadium Garage West. I then walked to Market Street just east of 7th Street. It was there that I met up with my Enterprise colleagues. Together, we would march in St. Louis' PrideFest parade.
This parade was the highlight of the annual PrideFest this past weekend, which celebrated the LBGTQ+ community. Many local companies and other organizations were represented in this parade. Most of the Enterprise contingent came from the Enterprise Holdings corporate office. I was the rare marcher who came from the rental branches.
Besides the approximately 100 marchers from our organization, there were three vehicles in the parade: a Ford Mustang convertible loaned from Enterprise Car Sales, and two trucks (stake beded and a box) from Enterprise Truck Rental. These vehicles were decorated in rainbow colors. Most of the marchers (including yours truly) wore green Enterprise t-shirts designed for this year's event. many of us added leis and beads for further decoration.
A few of us marchers wore bunches of balloons in assorted colors. They included my friend Melissa Maciorowski, who was just wonderful.
Many of us waited in the shade of a building while we waited for the parade to begin. I was one who took advantage of that shade and enjoyed a pre-parade drink of champagne with orange juice, which was welcome.
Just after 1:00 pm, we stepped off onto the parade, which went west on Market from 8th Street to 18th Street. Our group was early in the parade. It was hot under sunny skies, with the temperature of approximately 95 degrees F (35 degrees C), with a heat index of about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C). I had applied plenty of sunscreen before I left for the parade, which really helped me cope with the sunshine.
There were many units in this parade, including various companies, sports teams, labor unions, and social service organizations. Naturally, several LGBTQ+ organizations were present.
It was stop and start at times as our group headed down Market, pausing when units ahead of us stopped. Despite the heat, there was a great crowd along Market to watch the parade.
There was a reviewing stand just west of Tucker on the south side of Market, near City Hall. There, an announcer recognized each unit as it passed by it. We really appreciated the attention the announcer gave us and the applause from the audience along the street.
I would tell the audience "Thank you all for coming!" A few audience members told me thank you for marching. I felt much better when I heard that. I was not just marching to help support all LGBTQ+ people out there, but for a few people that I knew who are in the LGBTQ+ community. They know who they are.
After reaching Market and 18th, the parade ended for us. It was about 20 minutes of marching for us. We gathered for some photos by others in our group and I said my goodbyes. Then, I started walking east along Market towards my car. While walking along Market, I caught the rest of the parade as it passed me and the PrideFest grounds north of Market. I thought of stopping by those grounds for lunch but decided not to fight the crowds and headed to my car.
I got to my car in the Stadium West garage and headed home. I did stop by a QuikTrip on the way home to get a light lunch--barbecue pork sandwich, iced tea, and cookies--before arriving home in mid-afternoon.
Later.
Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post:
