Col. Slocum to be grand marshal of Goldsboro parade
By John Joyce
Published in News on December 3, 2015 1:46 PM
For the second consecutive year, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base 4th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Mark Slocum will take the helm as grand marshal of Goldsboro's annual Christmas Parade through downtown on Saturday.
Slocum, who returned to Goldsboro to take command at Seymour in June 2014 after first having served there years earlier, said he values the partnership SJAFB shares with the community of Goldsboro and Wayne County.
"This is the second time, the second year in a row, and it is humbling that the community even considers asking me to represent the base in their Christmas parade," Slocum said. "It shows that our partnership is strong," he said.
The parade will start on Center Street under the holiday decorations and lights dedicated last month during Goldsboro's annual Lights Up celebration. The city recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation process that -- over a period of more than two years -- transformed historic downtown into a thriving shopping district while allowing it to retain it's traditional charm.
Slocum's car will lead the parade, following only behind the chief of police, whose car will precede the parade by a few lengths to ensure the roads are securely blocked off, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce director of marketing and events Lara Landers said.
"The police chief is always the first car, but the leader of the parade is actually the grand marshal," she said.
Landers and the chamber took over running the parade a couple of years ago. She said it has been a long-standing tradition for the city to honor the base commander with the privilege of leading the annual Christmas parade
"When the chamber took over, I noticed the first year we had it that Col. (Jeannie) Leavitt was the grand marshal the year before. So we asked her again and then, when Col. Slocum took over the next year, we asked him," Landers said.
She said it is an annual honor that the city bestows upon the base. The chamber and SJAFB work closely together ensuring the bond between the community and the base remains as strong as possible, Landers explained.
"At the chamber we have a great relationship with the base -- we have the Military Affairs Committee and the Friends of SJAFB -- and we are always striving to make the relationship better," she said.
The parade provides an opportunity for families who might be new to the area to get out and experience downtown Goldsboro and to meet people from all over the county who come each year.
"It is a great tradition to start with your family that you will be able to continue for years to come," Landers said.
For his part, Slocum said he is looking forward to engaging with the community. The base and the community are one, with servicemen and women, their spouses and their children involved in the city and county schools, the Boys and Girl scouts of America, the Boys and Girls Club and in the churches, he said.