On the morning November 4, 2011, the
city of Gainesville, Florida prepared for a battle. Fighter jets
roared overhead, major roads were closed off, schools closed, and
tens of thousands of people packed the streets, many wearing orange
and blue. Commodores were coming into town, but there were no
battleships, for this “battle” was the homecoming Football game
between the Florida Gators and the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The homecoming festivities begin with
the annual University of Florida homecoming parade. Now in its 88th
year, the homecoming parade includes floats and representatives from
local organizations, student groups, and public figures. Among these
were the mayor of Gainesville, the UF marching band, local high
school and university ROTC units, and representatives from the
Gainesville Regional Airport.
Despite light
rain and clouds in the morning, by the time the parade began at noon,
the sky had cleared and the sun was shining. 11 cadets from the
Gainesville Composite Squadron represented Civil Air Patrol, with
cadets Airman Noah Wright and Sr. Airman George Fuller carrying the
squadron banner and representatives of the color guard team,
consisting of cadets Hannah Eades, Stephanie Redmond, Hunter Wood,
and Michael Redmond carrying the colors, followed by cadets Tiffany
Jacowczuk, Caleb Eades, Ben Foster, Andrew Geelhoed, and Noah
Parker, as they marched the two mile parade route along University
Avenue from the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the University of Florida
campus to Main Street downtown. 2nd Lt. Laura Eades
followed behind in a CAP van. “We were honored to represent our
Gainesville Composite Squadron” said Eades.
The day concluded with “Gator Growl”,
a student-run pep rally featuring a performance by The Goo Goo Dolls
and a stand-up routine by Joel McHale. The football game was held the
following day, with the Gators winning 26-21.
Photo: Gainesville Cadets take a photo opportunity at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium prior to the beginning of the parade.
