Parade Leaders

Linden’s 55th Wildflower Trails festival parade featured an unusual occurrence. It was led by three honorees — a grand marshal, a grand matron and a grand deputy sheriff.

The three were Laura Penny as grand marshal, Pearlee Wells as grand matron and Ray Littlejohn as grand deputy sheriff.

The three waved to the crowd and flashed big smiles. The first two were in convertibles and rode by so close to the onlookers they could have shaken hands.

Littlejohn was in an air-conditioned truck since he must use a wheelchair from having been injured several years ago while on duty as a sheriff ’s deputy.

The three are long-time community favorites. They also well represented the Wildflower Trails event itself, said wildflower planning committee chairperson Joanna Duncan.

“Linden’s parade gives us a chance to recognize local citizens who give so much to help the town and its people,” Duncan said. “Linden really does have a good heart. We wanted this parade to make our grand honorees feel grand.”

Pearlee Wells is unusual in her recognition. The retired employee of the Natural Resources Conservation Service had worked with the festival in some capacity for 48 years. She was often the events coordinator of the 55-year-old festival.

Laura Penny has been a dedicated volunteer in many capacities after having returned to live in Linden, Duncan said.

“She’s so enthusiastic, just a pleasure,” Duncan said, recalling that the same was true for Laura’s assistance with her late husband Wilford who had been a mayor of Linden.

Ray Littlejohn had been injured in a patrol car accident, yet still through the years had directed the cowboy shoot-out gun-play performance “Probably no three parade honorees in recent times have had had as much fun as these, Duncan concluded. “They were appropriate and represented Linden well,” she said, adding, “they are a part of our world and lives.”