In keeping with the theme of this year’s Buchanan Christmas Parade, “For the Kids,” three young students will serve as grand marshals of the parade this Saturday, Dec. 11.
Line up for the parade begins at 3 p.m. with the parade beginning at 4 p.m.
The three students being recognized are Buchanan youth who have been outstanding examples of volunteers in the community. The youngest of this trio is Gavin Price, a student at Buchanan Elementary School, who is sometimes known as the “Peanut Butter Boy.” Gavin has raised awareness of the Backpack Buddy Program, which provides food for youth in need. Gavin selflessly asked that instead of gifts for his birthday, he would like people to donate jars of peanut butter for the Backpack Buddy Program. Gavin’s efforts have collected enough peanut butter the last three years to provide enough peanut butter for every elementary school in Botetourt County for the entire year. This year, Gavin collected more than 2,000 jars of peanut butter.
Buchanan’s second parade marshal is Aaron Petty, a student at Central Academy Middle School. Over the past three years, Aaron has volunteered hundreds of hours to the community through his efforts of planting trees on the Buchanan Town Park, working at the Zoo Dip Booth during the Buchanan Community Carnival and helping the Buchanan Town Improvement Society during Second Sunday Dinners. Most recently, Aaron helped install lights on the Town Park for the Festival of Lights.
The oldest of the three parade marshals is Jackson Tyree, a student at Parry McCluer High School. Jackson has volunteered hundreds of hours over the past three years helping to maintain hanging baskets and planters along Main Street, planting and weeding flowerbeds on the Town Park, planting trees for Arbor Day, helping stock supplies for the Buchanan Community Carnival as well as assisting with Second Sunday Dinners with the Town Improvement Society.
