Click here for Dallas' Memorial Group on Facebook
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Honoring Dallas: Choctaw 60th Anniversary Parade of Classes
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In August 2012 I was surprised to receive an email from the "Fallen Indians of Choctawhatchee High School" group on Facebook asking if I would honor Dallas as a Fallen Indian and walk for him in the CHS 60th Anniversary Celebration Parade of Classes. Of course it was a special honor for me to do this for Dal since I had missed his Choctaw years while I was away in the military. The parade took place on Friday evening, September 21, 2012 and was a great event. It felt good to be on the campus where Dal excelled as a student, and to be in Joe Etheredge Stadium where he graduated and played varsity football with the "Big Green Indians." As my two young sons and I lined up for the parade we met two of Dal's classmates who remembered him fondly. It was great to be walking in the parade with them and my sons, holding Dallas' name, number and picture high for all his classmates, friends and family in the stands to see.
One particular event during the parade really touched me. I noticed a lady in the stands was motioning to someone beside her and pointing to the jersey that I was holding up. Then I saw her hand go over her mouth as I think she realized Dallas had passed. As we started to move along she yelled "Go Dallas!" which made my chest swell with pride for his life and his accomplishments that contribute to the wonderful 60-year tradition of Choctawhatchee High School. Pictures and video of the parade are below. - Max Gray (Dallas' Uncle) |
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CHS Parade of Classes Slideshow
Dal's Presence:
For the 60th Anniversary football game that followed the parade, my sons were wearing custom Choctaw T-shirts with their names and numbers on the back (No's 20 and 21). This was their first ever football game and were anticipating the action. As the game started, Choctaw won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball. We got excited as we noticed the first play of the game from scrimage went to Choctaw player #20. Later when re-watching the game on video we realized the initial kickoff was caught and taken up the field by Choctaw player #21. My sons got a real kick out of their numbers getting the call on the first two actions of the game. Later the family talked about how maybe this was Dal's loving way of letting us know his spirit was there and he appreciated his cousins walking for him in the parade to honor him. Maybe Dal even got a little heavenly help from Pop Marler :-)
(Choctaw won the game convincingly 56-7 for their first win of the season)
For the 60th Anniversary football game that followed the parade, my sons were wearing custom Choctaw T-shirts with their names and numbers on the back (No's 20 and 21). This was their first ever football game and were anticipating the action. As the game started, Choctaw won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball. We got excited as we noticed the first play of the game from scrimage went to Choctaw player #20. Later when re-watching the game on video we realized the initial kickoff was caught and taken up the field by Choctaw player #21. My sons got a real kick out of their numbers getting the call on the first two actions of the game. Later the family talked about how maybe this was Dal's loving way of letting us know his spirit was there and he appreciated his cousins walking for him in the parade to honor him. Maybe Dal even got a little heavenly help from Pop Marler :-)
(Choctaw won the game convincingly 56-7 for their first win of the season)
Choctaw player #21 tosses the football to the referee after returning the kickoff to start the game.
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Choctaw player #20 prepares to take a reverse handoff up the field for the first play of the game from scrimage.
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Videos of the parade:
Emerald Coast TV.com
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Schenck's Photography, LLC
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Fallen Indians of CHS Memorial Wall
Dal's name and picture were included on the Fallen Indians of Choctawhatchee High School Memorial Wall (right side panel, first picture under the second "h" in Choctawhatchee) The Wall was set up in the school library earlier in the day before the parade and game. Mother and daughter, Debra Lyons (above) and Jennifer Neal (below, center) built the wall and organized these wonderful events for the Fallen Indians families and friends.
More Slideshow Pictures
And finally... what's a Choctaw event without the Style Marchers playing "Big Green Indian?"
Click on Picture
