Sept. 1, 2003 –– The Middle Age Majorettes' music summed up the mood and the weather at Monday's Labor Day parade in Coral Bay.
"Hot, Hot, Hot," blared the music as the several dozen majorettes made their way from the Domino gas station intersection to the fire station.
Pam Gaffin, a Middle Age Majorette who turned 49 on Monday, said she couldn't think of a better way to celebrate her birthday.
"It's what everybody should do on their birthday," she said.
Urging a photographer to get a rear shot of their t-shirts printed with flame thong bikinis and lots of bare behind, Gaffin noted that their "butts were pretty impressive."
Carrying their "Hot and Flashy" banner, the St. John women were the crowd pleaser.
In fact, if it weren't for the Middle Aged Majorettes, the parade would have passed in a blink of an eye. The St. John prince and princess, Kristal Anthony and Sylvester Anthony were on hand as well as a small handful of others, but the majorettes stole the show.
"I love the hot flashes," Loretta Martin, a St. Thomas resident who came over for the day, said
A Jeep-full of folks from Shipwreck Landing restaurant came out for the parade.
"We didn't have anything else to do," said Doug, who in keeping with St. John tradition, declined to give his last name.
While most of the people who lined the parade route were from St. John, there were more than a few from St. Thomas.
Wendell Lincoln, standing with a beer and his buddies, said he came over to get away from St. Thomas. "And to have fun."
It was also a day for residents who moved away to return to Coral Bay. Cheryl Miller, a long-time Coral Bay resident who recently moved to St. Thomas, said the parade was like the last "vestige of what St. John is all about."
She was referring to the parade's smallness, haphazard organization and sense of camaraderie.
Mariah Scheer, 8, was set up near Miller to sell lemonade.
"It's the best lemonade around," Scheer said.
The day provided an opportunity to for residents to make a little bit of money. Al Smith was on hand with his hand-crafted clocks, Cindy Aronson was selling hand-made "Ollie Pop Canine Cool Hats" designed to keep the sun off a dog's face, and there were a few people with food stands in Coral Bay ballfield.
Delegate Donna Christensen was there to gather a few votes, raise money for her campaign through her food sale, and to enjoy the day.
"This is a fun parade," she said.
The party continued throughout the afternoon at the Coral Bay ballfield.
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