Sisters celebrates with Christmas parade

Hundreds of spectators lined both sides of Main Avenue on Saturday for the 38th Sisters Christmas Parade sponsored by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce.

This year's theme was "Red, White & Blue Christmas," representing our national colors for a tribute to our active military men and women, and veterans, during this Christmas season.

And it was Red, White & Blue lawn chairs for Pat and Elaine Eastman from Albany as they waited for the parade to begin.

"We stop in for a visit at our vacation home in Sisters every year to celebrate the holidays, and the Christmas Parade is one of the highlights," Elaine Eastman said.

As for their chairs matching the theme for this year's celebration, Pat Eastman added this: "People want to get back to what's important."

U.S. Army medic and 2009 SHS graduate Marc Peck kicked off the celebration, presenting our flag while marching down the avenue in military uniform.

Parade announcer Bob Buckmann was moved by the spirit of the celebration.

"Marc Peck has been deployed to Afghanistan three times. He's a battlefield medic and has saved many lives, and has helped many soldiers who were wounded," Buckmann said. "We are very proud to have Mark here presenting our colors, and we also pray for those who are not with us for protecting our liberty."

There was a big shout-out to Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD, that has served Sisters for six decades.

Directly following the fire district engines was Warfighter Outfitters, a non-profit guide and outfitter service that provides no-charge fishing and hunting trips for wounded veterans. It was founded by Brett Miller, a wounded combat veteran who nearly lost his life while serving in Iraq.

More than 450 disabled veterans have been in the Pavati drift boat on fishing trips this year alone. And Miller's trucks and boats rolled down Main Avenue filled with disabled combat veterans from previous trips.

Warfighter Outfitters' entry was in honor of PFC Thomas Tucker, who was a prisoner of war, missing in action and killed in action in Iraq 2006.

The celebration wouldn't be the same without The Corgi Express, a crowd favorite. Folks had a howling good time clapping for Rio, Tippet, Trystan and Bailey, as they raced down the Avenue pulling their sleigh of goodies followed by their pet parents, Ann Richardson and Clyde Dildine.

Circle of Friends, a non-profit one-on-one mentoring support for children in Sisters community, sported a trailer provided by the City of Sisters, decorated in the theme colors. The trailer was filled with the mentors' "little friends" waving the flag.

It was a combination of floats, fire engines and some amazing animals. The Christmas Parade had hundreds of children and big folks applauding, laughing and cheering, as each entry made its way past.

From little dogs to miniature horses to the big dogs from the Pacific Northwest Newfoundland Club, there were favorites for everyone.

It wouldn't be a Christmas Parade without Santa Claus, and as an annual tradition, the Black Butte Ranch carriage held the season's most popular fellow.

Immediately following the parade, Santa made a visit to the Sisters Chamber office on Main Avenue for delightful one-on-one visits with the little folks.