By Gwendolyn H. Daniels
Photos: SIMMONS EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
National Recording Artist Reuben Lael served as Garland’s 2024 grand marshal for the 35th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade and march, Saturday, January 13, 2024,
WIth nearly 150 entries filling the 1.9-mile parade route, beginning at Garden Drive and Dairy Road in east Garland and ending at the Granville Arts Center, 300 Austin Street in downtown Garland, Texas, it was a festive occasion, despite it being a little chilly.
Lael is featured on the lead float along with members of the Garland Parks Department who decorated his float.
All seven Garland ISD high school bands and drill teams, its board of trustees and district superintendent joined the procession. Another popular entry was the Garland ISD Mobile Library. Area churches, nonprofits, and many political candidates all participated in the Garland parade.
Beautiful courtesy vehicles from dealerships along Interstate 635 in Garland provided transportation for Gar- land’s mayor and city council members.
JPMorgan Chase Bank and Guaranty Bank of Gar-land served as 2024 corporate sponsors. Volunteers from the Xi Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Bank of America assisted the Garland Areawide Brotherhood in staging the parade and serving as judges for the Creative MLK Entry Contest.
The Garland Board of Trustees won first place in the entry contest, Dallas County Precinct Chairs won second place and the Rainbow Neighborhood Association joined Sims Chapel Gospel Choir In tying for third place.
Following the Garland MLK parade and march, the school district sponsored an outstanding musical entitled “Lift Every Voice and Sing” held in the Granville Arts Center.
On Sunday, January 14, 2024, the ever-popular Youth Extravaganza was held at 4:00 PM in the Granville Arts Center.
The entire weekend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. events was sponsored by the NAACP Garland Unit, the City of Garland and the Garland Independent School District.
