Nokesville Day 2014 Emphasizes Public Service, Community

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Nokesville Day 2014, organized by the Nokesville-Bristow Ruritans, emphasized public service while uniting community members on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

This year, instead of having a Grand Marshal, the Ruritans featured the charity, 4 Wheels 2 Heal, which provides funds for wounded veterans, allowing them to live a-once-in a lifetime experience.

While this was new to the parade, in most other ways the day’s events carried on the Nokesville Day tradition of fun, family, friends and community. It was a day in which children played together, and adults took time out of their busy scheduled to catch up with their neighbors.

“I just liked how it encapsulated the small town feel of Nokesville,” said Nokesville resident and first time attendee of the Nokesville Day Parade, Catherine Rudacille.

Leading off the parade were the trucks including tractors, 4 Wheels 2 Heal jeeps, fire trucks and fire engines. More tractors followed later in the parade as well as some classic cars.

The parade next honored its distinguished citizens. Patti McKay was honored as Citizen of the Year. McKay is a registered nurse and an involved member of Friends Uniting Nokesville (FUN). The Nokesville Ruritans honored the Chuckwagon Restaurant as Business of the Year.

T. Clay Wood Elementary School honored three teachers as Teachers of the Year: Nancy Weaver, Jennifer Ramsey and Kristen Putman. Brentsville District High School (BDHS) honored Latin teacher Matt Carbo.

Ken Hinkle Jr. was honored as Nokesville Ruritan of the year, and Katja Fyock, who is very involved with Rudy Youth, was honored as Bristow Ruritan of the Year.

As in other years, the Nokesville Library paraded down the street pushing book carts. Tip-Top Twirlers twirled their batons; Brentsville junior Tiger cheerleaders shook their pom-poms.

“I liked how fun it was,” said Lily Mayes, 7, of Nokesville. “The floats were really, really fun. The food was good. The bounce house was cool and face painting. Everything was good.”

There was a send off to Nokesville Elementary School, in the form of a float reading, “NES, We will Miss,” and the BDHS School class of 1964 was honored on a float.

Long-time Nokesville resident Ray Ridgley and his wife Bonnie said they have lived in Nokesville for 39 years; Mr. Ridgley has worked at BDHS for 45 years. Although this was the first year not living in Nokesville, the Ridgleys made sure to return for the Nokesville parade.

“It’s always good. We’ve been coming since my oldest son was 3 years old,” Mrs. Ridgley said.

The parade featured music performed live by both the BDHS and Patriot High School marching bands.

The parade also celebrated youth activities, such as the Brentsville Youth Baseball League (BYBL), Tiger Football, local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, HIC Royal Soccer,  Tiger Martial Arts and Prince William Dance Academy.

“I liked it when the baseball players came down,” said Nathan Towsend, 12, a BYBL Brewer.

Local elected officials made an appearance, including Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington (R), School Board member Gil Trenum, and even Congressman Rob Wittman (R).

“It’s fantastic. It’s really small town America,” Congressman Wittman said.

Wittman said the parade reminded him of his own little town of Montrose, Virginia, because “everybody knows everyone. It is really what makes our state and our country great.”

The parade also provided the opportunity for new candidates running for the office of Brentsville District Supervisor to make an appearance, campaign and talk with residents one-on-one.

Democrat candidate Don Shaw marched with The Democrats of Prince William County.

Shaw said, “it’s a great time,” at Nokesville Day, and that his campaign was going well.

Republican candidate Jeanine Lawson marched, met with citizens and handed out campaign stickers. She and her supporters met with citizens to discuss her vision for the Brentsville district.

The other Republican candidate, Scott Jacobs, marched in the parade. Additionally, he held a Homes for Heroes event at his real estate office, Jacobs & Co., located along the parade route. The event was co-sponsored by Fairway Independence Mortgage of Gainesville.

The event featured pony rides, face painting, a moon bounce and free BBQ, and it provided citizens another place to gather before and after the parade.

Jacobs said he chose to support the organization because it “donates a portion of our proceeds back to the heroes in our community.”

Congressman Wittman gave a speech supporting Homes for Heroes. He emphasized the need to support the U.S. military members and veterans.

He said when it comes to the military America should not put our men in women in a “fair fight." Rather, they should be given the tools to place them in a position of “overwhelming superiority.”

Wittman also spoke about the need to grow the job and the economy through adhering to “commonsense conservative practices.”

He said that America is still the “greatest nation in the world,” and that is due to its military and the “creativity and innovation” of the American people.

After the parade, many residents stayed in town to visit the vendors at Nokesville Elementary School, chat with friends and neighbors and get a hot dog or a snow cone.

People said they were happy with the parade and activities, and were grateful that the Nokesville Ruritans have continued the community tradition.

“We always liked it,” said Yvonne Conatser.

Her son, 10, Bryan said they go to see their grandmother.

“She’s been in forever,” Bryan said.

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