By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
FAITH — A Faith native who served on the Board of Education for two decades will lead the Faith Fourth of July parade this year.
Parade organizers Pam Alexander and her parents, Sylvia and James Alexander, selected Marcelle Williams to be the grand marshal during the 66th annual event.
“Marcelle has lived in Faith many, many years and he’s been so involved with the American Legion, veterans organizations and the school system that we just felt he needed to be honored for all he’s done,” Pam said.
After returning home from serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Williams joined the American Legion Post No. 327 in Faith, where he went on to serve as district, division and state commander.
Williams said being part of the annual Faith Fourth of July’s weeklong festivities has never been a question, but he typically isn’t there for the fun.
“I’ve been working at them ever since I started at the American Legion,” he said. “That’s just how it goes.”
The American Legion is one of our civic organizations that serve as the backbone of the event.
Although Williams lives right on Main Street, where the mile-and-a-half parade takes place, he isn’t normally a spectator.
“The new state (American Legion) commander always comes here on the Fourth of July and I usually drive him during the parade,” he said.
Williams said it will be different to actually be the one waving to the estimated crowd of 30,000 people lining the street during the parade this year.
“This part is all new to me,” he said.
This year’s parade will kick off at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4, from the intersection of Main Street and Rainey Road.
Find out more about this year’s Faith Fourth of July festivities in Wednesday’s Post.