Almost 200 student athletes perched on fire trucks and paraded through Hamburg streets on Thursday, October 12. The parade is an annual tradition for the town during the week of Hamburg Area School District’s Homecoming festivities.
Cheering them on were parents and other community members. Among them were friends Jennifer Adams and first-time parade observer Shilpa Moser, who watched from the corner of Fourth and Windsor streets.
“I enjoyed watching the kids’ faces light up as we cheered for them,” Moser said. “They were radiating Hamburg Hawk pride.”
Hamburg resident Tracey Burton said she has lived in town and watched the parade faithfully for more than 20 years.
“When I hear the fire trucks go on [during] the week of homecoming, I know the kids are coming,” she said. “I enjoy the parade not only to support the school sports but also to see how the kids all enjoy doing this and to look for familiar faces.”
With a laugh, Burton said, “I might be just as excited as the kids.”
Coordinating the event for the past few years is Brad Valentino. He is a 2000 graduate of Hamburg Area High School and today is coach for the high school’s cheerleaders and president of the sports boosters.
“At least 150 up to 200 kids participated this year. And it was by far the most participation of parents throughout town as well,” Valentino said. “We live in a small community and it’s a small district, so it’s important to have as many people involved as possible. In order to continue with the traditional [activities], getting as many people involved as possible is important.”
The parade has become a long-standing tradition in Hamburg, with trucks loading up students at the school property on Windsor Street before heading to circle through the streets of town.
“Back about 15 years ago, I took over the responsibilities of organizing the parade,” Valentino said, noting that the parade had been in place during his years as a student when it was organized through the cheerleading program and usually included just the football team and cheerleading squad.
“I expanded it to include all the athletes,” Valentino explained.
That addition has both boosted participation in the parade as well as the parents and community members who come out to cheer for the kids.
Now, participation is open to all fall athletes on the school’s middle and high school team. This year, that included soccer, field hockey, tennis, football, cross country, cheerleading and golf.
Eight fire trucks from all the companies that cover the district provide transportation each year. Hamburg Fire Chief Troy Hat works with Valentino by contacting all companies in Shartlesville, Strausstown, Hamburg, Shoemakersville, Virginville and Port Clinton.
Aaron Menapace, director of athletics for the district, said Valentino does a remarkable job coordinating the fire companies, coaches and athletes.
“I appreciate him doing it,” Menapace said, “as it’s something that the kids really enjoy and it builds a tie to the community.”
Menapace said the community can expect to see the parade in the years to come. He is already anticipating Homecoming 2018.
“Next year we are really going to work with the student council to have homecoming be something that’s a real spectacle,” he said.
