Floats take time and cooperation

Saturday was a bustle of activity around town as many residents were prepping floats for the Veteran’s Day Parade. The theme this year is “Remembering the Past and Imagining the Future.”

At Porterville College students from different clubs were helping with the last few bits of decorations on the Associated Students of Porterville College (ASPC) Float.

“It takes a lot of teamwork. Everybody has a feel for what their particular job might be,” said Student Body President Genevie Bunch who brought along her three daughters to help.

The float featured a circle of flags held in place by bales of hay. Off on the side was a giant canvass with the outline of the American flag inked on it. Pieces of white, tubes were set against the trailer. Bunch explains that the tubes will become a frame.

“The frame supports flags. Below that we’re hoping to have the names of local fallen soldiers to honor their sacrifice,” explained Bunch. Fellow worker Juan Lopez estimated that it took about four days to complete the process. According to Bunch, the some of the materials were donated. She also explained that the majority of the work is done at the school, but the last minute details like ribbons are added at the parade site.

At Summit Charter Collegiate Academy seventh grader Lucas Giannetto hooked up a beam of American flags to the battery and voila! The arms moved alternatively up and down. With glee he explained how the parts for the Odyssey of the Mind’s Veterans Day float were made.

“We grabbed 2X4’s, dug holes, put screws in them, dug holes in the arms and screwed into blocks,” said Giannetto who added that the whole system was built within a couple of hours.
“I have fun building them,” added Gianetto.

A few feet away eighth grader and Odyssey of the Mind member Shelby Callison was preparing to decorate the plane’s propeller.

“I love decorating. It’s fun,” said Callison who wasn’t sure of the color.

Outside other members of the club were finishing up the cardboard trimmings on the back of their float.

Club President and Senior Nick Garcia explained that the float is made up of mostly club members.

“It’s the robotics classes and the Odyssey of the Mind Club which at it’s simplest form is a problem solving group,” said Garcia who added that a float is more than just decorations.

“It’s where any group gets together and puts together what they’re all about,” added Garcia.

Other groups like Rockford school had volunteers working on their floats on Friday.

“It really fits well with the theme of Remember the Past and Imagine the Future,” said Superintendent Andy Schultz who will be dressing up as Abraham Lincoln and teaching a lesson to students on the float.

“We’re excited about it. It’s the first time we’ve had a float in a number of years,” added Schultz.