This week, our community's three-day Cheese Days festival culminates with the traditional Sunday afternoon parade. Organizing a parade with scores of float entries is no small chore, and for that the Green County Cheese Days committee has earned our gratitude.
This year, one parade unit, Paws on Parade (PAWS), is open to willing dogs and kids (both young and old). Led by the Monroe Police canine Loki and flanked by the Milwaukee Brewers Racing Sausages, PAWS is designed to showcase animal rescue and adoption as provided by the Green County Humane Society (GCHS).
In keeping with the heritage, intent and spirit of our Cheese Days founders, the member organizations that will marshal PAWS down the parade route - GCHS, Monroe Rebels Soccer, Monroe Theatre Guild and the Monroe High School Cheerleading Squad - symbolize what community partners can accomplish when they share resources and work together.
In order to ensure that the marching dogs and their human escorts have a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience, PAWS organizers are taking many precautions and will equip each participant with a complete set of parade instructions.
PAWS is designed to be colorful and fun. One 12-year-old girl from Monroe who marched with a similar "canine" unit in the 2004 parade called it "the best day of my life." A woman from Lena, Ill., wrote it was "one of the best times I've ever had! Stuart (her miniature dachshund) and I had a blast." Each of these women and Stuart will be returning to participate this Sunday. Their families will be among the spectators.
In 2008, the vision for PAWS pictures dogs of all shapes and sizes strutting down the parade route with their tails positioned high and wagging; and kids walking tall and swiftly, while sporting appreciative smiles and waving their human PAWS to supportive onlookers.
As you view the parade this Sunday, please remember that each of the community volunteers following the PAWS banner, as well as the members of the other units, is marching for you and our community. So when they come parading by, we invite you to stand in support and put your PAWS up. Thank you.
This year, one parade unit, Paws on Parade (PAWS), is open to willing dogs and kids (both young and old). Led by the Monroe Police canine Loki and flanked by the Milwaukee Brewers Racing Sausages, PAWS is designed to showcase animal rescue and adoption as provided by the Green County Humane Society (GCHS).
In keeping with the heritage, intent and spirit of our Cheese Days founders, the member organizations that will marshal PAWS down the parade route - GCHS, Monroe Rebels Soccer, Monroe Theatre Guild and the Monroe High School Cheerleading Squad - symbolize what community partners can accomplish when they share resources and work together.
In order to ensure that the marching dogs and their human escorts have a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience, PAWS organizers are taking many precautions and will equip each participant with a complete set of parade instructions.
PAWS is designed to be colorful and fun. One 12-year-old girl from Monroe who marched with a similar "canine" unit in the 2004 parade called it "the best day of my life." A woman from Lena, Ill., wrote it was "one of the best times I've ever had! Stuart (her miniature dachshund) and I had a blast." Each of these women and Stuart will be returning to participate this Sunday. Their families will be among the spectators.
In 2008, the vision for PAWS pictures dogs of all shapes and sizes strutting down the parade route with their tails positioned high and wagging; and kids walking tall and swiftly, while sporting appreciative smiles and waving their human PAWS to supportive onlookers.
As you view the parade this Sunday, please remember that each of the community volunteers following the PAWS banner, as well as the members of the other units, is marching for you and our community. So when they come parading by, we invite you to stand in support and put your PAWS up. Thank you.
