Parade a mixture of party goers, patriotism

As Glenn Lucky rode by on his specially designed bicycle, which was purchased for him by the community, Gardnerville grandmother Judy Giallongo clapped with relish.

Lucky smiled and waved.

"He has such courage," Giallongo said at Saturday's Nevada Day parade. "He is to be admired. He is well known in the community and highly respected."

She was there with her husband of 40 years, Mario, and three grandkids, one of whom, Aleesah Herup, was in the parade. The two other grandkids sat on the curb holding signs, part of the message they want to deliver to Aleesah Herup. Grandma held the sign that says "Aleesah," and Grandpa held "You're Tutu Cute."

Aleesah was on "The Nutcracker" ballet float, but unfortunately for the Herups and Giallongos, she was on the side of the float opposite them. They screamed her name as the float passed by. Mom was discouraged.

A little bit of angst right here at Carson City's annual Nevada Day parade.

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Maritza Fuentes and Lidia Vega, both 11, celebrated the holiday with $3 cans of Party Crazy String, lots of it, all over themselves and smashed onto Carson Street. Maritza, a Carson Middle School student, had pink Crazy String in her eyelashes and twisted in her curly ponytail.

"I think it's pretty nice," she said about the parade.

"And fun," said Lidia, a Mark Twain Elementary School student.

Virginia Ramm, 7, and her freckled-faced sister, Stephany Seelley, 18, were bundled up in a blanket with Winter, their pug/poodle mix. The dog's head poked out of the top of the blanket.

They were camped outside the Legislative Plaza near the Carson City Courthouse and a "no dogs" sign.

"I like the Barbie in 'The Nutcracker' (float), and I like anything that looks like angels," Virginia said, the morning sun lighting up her disheveled blond hair.

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It's not every day that visitors can see the Carson City Shriners Club drive in circles in front of the State Legislature. Kids sitting on crowded sidewalks grasped for balloons released in the air by the clowns.

A sea of humanity clapped for politicians and all of the veterans and plugged their ears when the classic cars gunned their engines. As Douglas County resident Jim Murphy said, it wouldn't be a parade without a lot of noise. It's Americana.

Farther down the block, folks from the Burning Man festival drove a fluorescent orange-and-yellow, augmented stagecoach car. Right behind them was a Carson City Fire Department fire engine.

Iconic images converge on Nevada's birthday.

In no other state in the union would a visitor see the banner of the parade's main sponsor - Carson City Gaming - carried by two showgirls in skimpy red sequined costumes festooned with red feathers.

Another bit of Americana: Capitalism. Kathy Allen stood in front of Timbers Saloon selling bloody Marys. The big ones in the red plastic cups cost $4. How many had she sold?

"Oh, my gosh, it's hard to even estimate," Allen said. Her sister owns Timbers. "A couple hundred so far. Lots of bloody Marys."

Colleen Hannan of Carson City buys a big one. A slice of lime floats on top of the red drink.

"Very tasty indeed," she said.

Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.