Visitor's view: Marion is the big winner on OSD
All too often, when people live in a place for many years, they tend to start seeing the traditional events of their town as commonplace. Take it from someone who is not a Marion resident, someone who is on the outside looking in. When it comes to community celebrations, Marion's Old Settlers' Day ranks right up there at the top. It is anything but common.
I was born in Marion in 1946. I attended kindergarten there, but our family moved away in the early 1950s. Most of my growing-up years were spent in Wichita. It's obvious that I can't personally lay claim to the title of "old settler," at least not like those Marion High School graduates who are honored each year at the Old Settlers' Day celebration.
There are many in my family, however, who are Marion "old settlers." For instance, my mother, Mary (Grubb) Herbert, graduated from Marion High School in 1931. She has attended the last three celebrations, this year attending at age 90. My uncle, Jim Grubb rode in this year's parade with his class of graduates from 1939, the oldest class honored. My sister, Diana was with her class, the 1953 group, during last year's parade, as they celebrated their 50-year reunion. She was back again this year with my other sisters to enjoy the festivities.
We all enjoyed the day. The parade was great again, with all the entries showing much imagination. The music and bands were a treat. The floats with the honorees from the graduating classes were the highlight. And then, of course, there were all of those blue balloons.
The weather was perfect, the food delicious, and the people of Marion, as always, friendly.
The games in the park are always fun. I entered the three-legged race, open division, with my niece, Sidney Hubbard. For the past two years, we had finished third and second in that event. Since our combined age is now 100, I wondered if this time we would have any chance at all. Luckily, thanks to a couple of competitors falling down just short of the finish line, we finished third.
Truly though, the highlight of the Old Settlers' Day celebration for me is always just observing the camaraderie throughout the park — the people talking with family and friends who have come together for yet another year's celebration. I marvel at the comments from the graduates of past classes as they are introduced. Comments like, "Thank you Marion for honoring us like this," or "I am grateful for the chance to come back home."
At this year's celebration, I ran into my old friend, Max Jackson, who introduced the 1964 graduating class. Had I grown up in Marion, I would have been part of that class. I mentioned to Max how it seemed to me that the Old Settlers' Day celebration was something pretty special. He was quick to agree, pointing out that Marion has always been a friendly town with lots of community spirit, not to mention having an unusually nice park in which to hold celebrations.
Yes, even though I moved away when I was young, whenever I return to Old Settlers' Day, I find myself musing how great a life it would have been growing up in Marion. It's odd, but people sometimes don't realize how good they have it. There is always something somewhere else that seems to be that much better.
I would be surprised if the people of Marion feel that way. There is something inherently good about a community that bands together to show its community spirit. Old Settlers' Day in all respects is "something special," and Marion, including those who are growing up there now, and those who are the "Old Settlers" from the past, are the big winners.
Charles Herbert
Overland Park
