Hey, kids! Remember the great Land Rush of 1889? What’s that? You say your memory is a bit rusty, kind of like that ax or horse shoe from back then.
Maybe you remember it as the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889, where 50,000 people took off at noon (or high noon as we used to call it) on April 22 of that year, racing to claim some 2 million acres in the Oklahoma territory. And they staked their claim, marking it with sticks and rocks.
I have observed that this tradition continues every Labor Day, well, somewhat, without an act of Congress and without legal ownership.
Claims along the Jaycees Last Fling Labor Day Parade route are marked now with folding chairs and tarps by thousands of people.
But instead of racing off at high noon, this occurs over a longer period of time, starting at dusk the day before, and continuing throughout the early morning hours before the parade begins at 10AM on Labor Day.
My wife, Laurie, and I have had our claim for the last eight or so years at Mill Street and 5th Avenue, working as co-chairs of the parade and as members of the Naperville Jaycees.
Our claim-staking actually starts in the spring each year. First we organize the parade, then we send out notices to past participants. The entire planning process is a bit of work, but it is made much easier by working with all the fantastic staff of both the City of Naperville and the Naperville Park District.
My wife and I hope you staked a great claim for this year’s Labor Day Parade.
And here’s one more thing to remember. Safety comes first.
Be careful along the parade route when candy is tossed. Please advise children to pick it up at the curb without running into the street. Know that when parade participants throw candy high into the crowd—even some of the politicians—it is against our parade-participant rules.
Happy Labor Day Parade! Same time every year!
