Again in 2009 the Portsmouth River Days committee deserves to be congratulated. Each event has been well-attended, and well-planned. Actually the entire weekend is judged on the quality of the parade, which is several hours long, and offers everything from high school bands to politicians shaking hands to elaborate floats bearing pageant candidates.

While there were several large pauses in the middle of the parade, by and large it was a big success.

Crowds lined all of the streets on the route, some two and three deep, and cheered as their favorite River Days Queen candidate or a visiting queen from another festival passed by.

While throwing candy was again a practice of some participants, Mardi Gras beads were a great addition.

For hours and even days before the parade, people can be seen staking out their viewing area. These can be as simple as placing a folded blanket on the sidewalk or as complicated as the erection of tents containing coolers with soda and water, and yes, snacks, folding chairs and even an occasional radio, so one can catch the Buckeyes while watching the parade.

In a day and age in which many of the great traditions of Americana have been swallowed up by an electronic world, the River Days parade has not diminished.

The children still love the mascots who shake their hands. The passing of a high school band playing a patriotic tune still brings a tear to the eye. And who isn’t impressed with cruisers, fire trucks and camouflaged Humvees?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Portsmouth, has, in many ways, joined the rest of the world in moving forward, focusing on a changing America. But there is still one thing to count on. When the parade passes by, we will be there, watching much of the same things we have watched for more than 40 years. In Scioto County we have not grown weary of sitting in the sun for hours as we wave at little girls in pageant dresses and men on unicycles, as we wince at the sound of the 40 et 8 cannon. It’s a grand event.

Tonight you can lay your head down on your pillow knowing America is still America for a weekend every year in a place called Portsmouth, Ohio. And in the complicated world in which we live that is a good thing.