Parade viewers got priorities right

The loudest applause and cheering during the annual Gold Discovery parade last Saturday morning was rightly reserved for our local and visiting firefighters. Two 20-member marching hand crews based in California received the loudest applause and cheers from local residents whose memory of the recent 10,080-acre Myrtle Fire is fresh in their minds. 

Dressed in their work clothes of fire retardant yellow shirts and green pants and carrying the tools of their trade, they were a beautiful sight to see. We hope they felt the appreciation and respect from the hundreds who lined the parade route on an ideal weather day.

Firemen driving the Custer Volunteer Fire Department shiny red trucks and those from the Argyle Fire Department also got their share of applause from the parade crowd, as well as local veterans leading the event with the color guard, along with a visiting Marine Corps color guard. 

Firefighters and veterans are worthy of appreciation and applause from any crowd. Saturday's parade viewers in Custer certainly did have their priorities straight. The additional presence of the 20-member firefighter ground crews certainly did add to what was an already a wonderful annual Gold Discovery Days parade and weekend.

Hats off to the hard-working members of the Gold Discovery Days Committee who pulled off another great three days of events. With the cooperation of the weatherman, the annual event celebrating the discovery of gold in Custer was another great success.