Red, White, blue theme dominates Burdick Labor Day
By ROWENA PLETT
Reporter / photographer
Despite near 100 degree heat, a large crowd turned out to watch the 2 p.m. Burdick Labor Day parade.
Whether portrayed as the American flag or as items decorated accordingly, Burdick's Labor Day parade theme, "Red, White and Blue in 2002," was very much in evidence among the 90-plus entries.
The 40-minute parade was colorful and entertaining, and included numerous children and 19 people on horseback.
Lee Remy announced the parade.
The theme prize went to the four Omli children, whose mother is Suzy Omli, daughter of Dan and Linda Peterson of Burdick. They rode decorated tricycles and bikes, and one pulled a wagon.
The Centre High School band, a natural for the theme with its red, white, and blue uniforms, won the judges' prize.
"Every parade needs a band," said one judge, Neysa Eberhard of Newton. Other judges were Greg Wyatt, Lost Springs, and Julie Kerbs, Tampa.
Burdick Meat Market won the "most humorous" prize, featuring a big round hay bale decorated to look like a beef steer. The float carried slogans such as "In Meats We Trust," and "Your Meat's Best Friend."
Lois Peterson won first prize in the clown category. She was dressed as a bum, and her float portrayed the slogan: "Where Else Could I Live And Only Be A Bum? God Bless the USA!"
Other winners were as follows:
Floats: first prize, Burdick senior citizens; second prize, Burdick County Liners Women's Educational Club; third prize, Hebron Lutheran church.
Clowns: second prize, Freddy the Clown.
Antique cars and trucks: first prize, 1938 Chevrolet, Dale Powell, Council Grove; second prize, 1929 Model A, Gerald Dix, Delavan; third prize, 1931 Model A, Richard Dirks, Tampa.
Classic/collectible cars: first prize, 1963 Ford convertible, J.R. Choate, Council Grove; second prize, 1984 Chrysler convertible, Forrest Anderson, Burdick.
Antique tractors: first prize, 1937 John Deere "B", Earl Forsberg, Burdick; second prize, 1947 Allis Chalmers Model C, Don Anderson, Emporia.
Children's entries: first prize, Cooper Bina, Wichita; second prize, Kodey Johnson, Burdick; third prize, Ashlyn and Aaron Biehler, Herington.
Miscellaneous: first prize, Glenn Knuth, pulling antique implements; second prize, Bill Sexton, Woodbine, driving a homemade horseless carriage; third prize, Walt Otte family, Herington, "Pulling for the USA."
Horses: first prize, Falkon Riding School of Woodbine; second prize, Burdick Hustlers 4-H Club members on horseback.
Horse-drawn: first prize, Cottonwood Miniature Horses, Marion; second prize, Laurin and Lisa Geis, Marion.
Members of the Colberg/Smith American Legion color guard were Elmer Otte, Roger Peterson, Roland Peterson, and Paul Anderson.
Harvey Hawkinson, formerly of Burdick and now of Herington, and Harold Hovander, Burdick, were grand marshals. They were honored as war veterans.
Also in the parade were several graduates of the former Diamond Valley High School at Burdick. The class of 1932, celebrating its 70th class reunion, included Inez Schild, Laura Edwards, and Lulu Woodruff. Representatives of the class of 1942 were Eldon Nelson, Earl Peterson, and Irvin Strand.
Centre FFA, which served a barbecue pork dinner, served the largest crowd ever, providing at least 500 meals.
Burdick United Methodist Church served almost 80 gallons of homemade ice cream.
The Burdick Council of Clubs, which coordinated the event, was pleased with the day and thought it was "very" successful.
"It was hot, but we knew it was going to be," said Darlene Gutsch, club treasurer, "but we compared notes and felt it was a good day."
Other officers are Bud Peterson, president; Nancy Hanson, vice president; and Goldie Steele, secretary.
