Clinton Parents Prepare Float for Parade

Last year, Clinton School parents brought some added excited to the Maplewood Memorial Day Parade with their first-ever parade float—a giant globe fashioned with wire and recycled plastic bags.

This year, the parents, with the support of the Clinton School PTA, are hoping to follow up that success with their second parade float. This one will include three walls painted with the flags of the 27 countries represented at Clinton School as well as giant poppies in remembrance of those who gave their lives in service to this country during war.

Today, a few dozen parents and children were gathered at the Dussman's house on Highland Avenue to paint flags and poppies and start festooning the float, which was designed by Jeremy Moss and Melissa Healey. Moss is a Clinton parent and a professional photographer who will participate in the Studio Art Tour on June 6. Healey is a Clinton parent and an art teacher at Fairlawn School in Bergen County.

Jackie Lahey is the "CEO" of the project. She helped procure $200 from the PTA to purchase paint, wire and crepe paper for the float. $200 hardly seems enough but Lahey has gathered mostly donated materials to fashion the float—a trailer from Millstone, recycled paper and plastic bags, cereal boxes and three "Laugh-in walls" that have been re-appropriated from the school play.

Lahey and Moss were both surprised that other schools have not jumped on the bandwagon to produce floats after the great reception Clinton School received last year. Lahey said the impetus for last year's float was "to show the community the fantastic, good environment of Clinton School." She added, "We wanted to show Maplewood who we are as well as support the veterans." PTA President Karen Betheil noted that the parade float was a great source of pride for the Clinton community and about 200 parents and students showed up last year to march with the float.

The globe last year worked to highlight Clinton School's diversity, where a large ESL student contingent makes Clinton one of the most diverse in the South Orange Maplewood School District. This year's float also focuses on that diversity, showing the 27 flags of the countries of origin of the Clinton School students.

But the poppies also put the focus on veterans. Ever since John McCrae's poem "Flanders Field" became popular at the end of World War I, poppies have been a symbol of remembrance for fallen war heroes.

Here is the poem:

"In Flanders Fields"
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918),
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

We will follow up with progress on the float construction on Sunday, May 31, but be sure to see it in person when the parade kicks off on Sunday from the CHS parking lot. Parade times and route can be found here.