"My heart is about this big right now," Lou Pyles said, gesturing with her hands. "I've got cold chills."

And who could blame her? Pyles and her husband, Brent, watched Friday afternoon as weeks of hard work came to fruition when a marker honoring the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade as the nation's oldest continuous parade was officially unveiled in a ceremony at the Lawrence County Courthouse.

The idea was Lou Pyles' and Brent wrote the text for the marker. Both of them worked for weeks authenticating the historical information that was submitted to the Ohio Historical Society and requesting the marker.

"I am so proud of this," Lou said. "I'm glad the parade is finally getting honored for all the years of coming through our streets and honoring our veterans."

The process of getting a historical marker is a lengthy one, according to Michael Ring, director of marketing and public relations for the Ohio Historical Society. It begins with a grass roots effort, with local people requesting the marker and providing proof that their idea has historical significance.

"The ideas come from you, the people," Ring told the crowd that gathered on the courthouse lawn Friday afternoon. "In other states,

a group of historians or academians decide what is important. In Ohio, local people get involved in the historic marker program."

Then the request for a marker is submitted to the Ohio Historical Society for approval.

Approximately 1,100 historical markers are placed throughout the state.

Ironton Mayor John Elam noted that Ironton has its share of markers, some of them coming only recently.

Markers were dedicated within the last year at the John Campbell House and Tanks Stadium.