Batavia celebrates tradition, community with Loyalty Day Parade

For Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1197 Cmdr. Andy Franke, the annual Loyalty Day Parade in Batavia is all about tradition.

In the few years he's been involved with planning the festivities, Franke said he's been amazed at the extent of the community's excitement surrounding the celebration. He recalls countless people sharing stories of their experiences watching or participating in the parade as kids.

"I didn't grow up here," Franke said, "but I know how special all this is to the town."

On Sunday, the theme for the 42nd annual parade honored the 100th anniversary of Flag Day - yet another tradition with close ties to the community. Flag Day founder Bernard Cigrand was a Batavia resident.

The parade, as well as a festival at the end of the route, was hosted by the Overseas Batavia Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1197 and the city of Batavia.

Families lined the city streets to watch the parade, which included hundreds of participants from throughout Batavia and beyond. A band at the corner of Wilson and River streets played patriotic music, and children scrambled to pick up candy that had been tossed their way.

It's that kind of energy that Kim Affelt and Nathaniel Jarosz hoped to find when they moved into a home along the parade route two years ago. Now, sitting outside as the parade goes by has become somewhat of a tradition.

"It's fun feeling like a part of the community," Affelt said.

Though 8-year-old Ethan Hafer said his favorite part of any parade is the candy, his dad, Doug Hafer, said the Loyalty Day celebration serves as a teaching moment for Ethan and his 3-year-old brother, Wyatt.

"I think it's good to show them that it's good to have some community pride," he said, "and to teach them why the parade is important and why we celebrate Loyalty Day."

Franke, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1989 to 1993, said Batavia's parade and celebration is a special experience for all residents, but especially for veterans.

"I think it means a lot to them," he said. "I think it means a lot to have the community celebrate Loyalty Day - loyalty to our country and loyalty to our freedoms."