TEXARKANA - With "Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve" as the theme this year, the Fifth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade attracted many people on Monday.
Encouraged perhaps by the bright, late-morning sun, parade watchers gathered along the procession's designated street routes to view the floats, motorcycles, historic cars, horses, marching bands, drill teams and drum lines furnished by participating school districts, clubs, civic organizations, businesses and churches.
Texas-side resident Reginald Mitchell said he's been able to participate in a couple of the MLK Parades with his motorcycle - but not this year.
"Today is a great day to be outside, but my motorcycle is down, so this year, I will be a spectator and I'll just get to watch it," Mitchell said.
"But it's good to celebrate all of what Dr. King stood for and all of what he did for all of us," he added.
Arkansas-side resident Stephanie Moore said this year's parade is her second, adding that she made sure to bring both her son Jase, age 5 and daughter Italy, age 2.
"We all wanted to make sure we could be at this one and here we are,"Moore said.
James Keeton, who has served more then 23 years on the Liberty Eylau Independent School District Board of Trustees, said he received the honor of having a special vantage point - actually riding point as parade Grand Marshal this year.
"It's both a blessing and an honor to be associated with Dr. King, as well as with his philosophy and his activism for positive change," Keeton said. "It's my first time as a grand marshal - and when I heard about it from the selection committee, it was a surprise to me."
MLK Parade Chairman Brandon Houff said that five years ago, the parade started off small, but now has grown to about 50 units.
"I've seen both the parade and the audience grow to where they are now - and this year's audience seems larger," he said.
Barbara Pitts Riley, one of the event's organizers, said she welcomed the sunny skies.
"Last year it was really cold and the wind was blowing some, but it' a blessing to see the weather we have today," she said.