It’s a phrase you see everywhere these days – "United We Stand.

Tuesday, March 12, 2002

It’s a phrase you see everywhere these days – "United We Stand."

The phrase that has symbolized the American spirit following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will have one more place of prominence in the coming months. The Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade Committee last night chose that phrase as the theme for this year’s event.

"United We Stand" was the unanimous choice, beating out such other proposals as "Let Freedom Ring," "Freedom Is Never Free" and "Lest We Forget."

Committee member Frank McCown made the motion to adopt "United We Stand" as this year’s theme.

"They’re (the theme suggestions) all good, but this is the mood of the country right now," McCown said.

Committee member Jim Adkins agreed.

"It’s simple. You see it everywhere these days."

In other business, parade grand marshall Sue Lunsford said she hopes in the coming weeks more names will be added to the list of nominations for honorary grand marshall.

"We have five or six names, so far, but I would like more to choose from," Lunsford said.

The honor is usually given to a Lawrence Countian who has served in the military.

With a little more than two months to go before the parade, the committee is making some changes in the rules for entries.

Adkins says this year, he thinks participants should be required to display the American flag. In the past, the committee only requested it.

McCown says this year, he would like to see more attention paid to participants’ attire. He suggested that certain items such as "superman shirts" be prohibited in favor of more appropriate clothing.

Committee member Ron Bundy suggested that float entries be in place and ready for judging by 8:30 the morning of the parade.

In the past, some floats have joined the lineup only moments before the parade started, handicapping the judges who select winning entries.

"If they’re going to be judged, they’ve got to be down there," Bundy said.

Members also discussed adding a clause on the entry sheet informing participants that those who do not follow the rules may forfeit the right to be included in the parade in future years.