THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
Vermilion County Labor Day celebrations
ABOVE: Connie Ostrander (photo provides)
DANVILLE — One of the grand marshals of this year’s Labor Day parade said she never thought she’d be recognized in such a way.
After all, Connie Ostrander said, while she had long served as the parade coordinator, she felt the grand marshal title was meant to honor a leader within the community.
“I never really thought about me being the grand marshal. It was an honor that I was asked to do it. It was suggested a few years ago, but I was the coordinator. I didn’t feel it was appropriate,” she said. “I’ve never really thought of myself that way. I learned a lot from my husband, Jimmy, on how to be part of the community. He always was helping someone. He was by my side helping to handle this parade, helped me when I was representing AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees) in Washington.”
Nonetheless, she’ll be filling the honored role when the Danville Labor Day Parade kicks off at 9 a.m. Monday, with her late husband, Jim, also honored in memoriam.
She said she couldn’t have done it without him.
“I found myself by working within the community helping others make a difference,” she said.
FOR MORE FROM THIS STORY PLEASE GO TO https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/community-events/leaders-service-brings-recognition-as-grand-marshals-of-danville-westville-labor-day-parades/article_0bbad001-1695-4531-b292-ef7030d880b5.html
