Sept. 4, 2006 – Coral Bay's Labor Day parade looked like a political convention with the number of candidates of various stripes getting their names out in front of the small crowd of people gathered for the annual event.
If the candidates themselves weren't there, their supporters were – decked out in T-shirts sporting their candidates names.
Democratic candidate for governor, John deJongh, and his running mate, Gregory Francis, were busy handing out rulers and pencils.
"We're going to take all these rulers and measure their accomplishments," said St. John resident Barbara Thompson, inferring that they'd have to get elected first.
DeJongh said that although the Coral Bay area doesn't have a lot of voters, he said it was important to show his face – because if elected, he will represent the entire Virgin Islands.
"We want to be part of all the activities," DeJongh said.
Sen. Craig Barshinger, who lives in the Coral Bay area, marched in the parade with a "Democratic donkey" borrowed from Carolina Corral.
"I love to see Coral Bay all coming out," he said.
The parade, which lasted 20 minutes, may have broken recent records for longevity.
Thompson said that years ago the Coral Bay parade was the only parade on St. John because Coral Bay was the most important town.
She said in the olden days, Coral Bay even had a j'ouvert before the parade. And the food stands were strung out along the main road. They're now located at the ballfield.
Her uncle, the St. John-born Theodore Stevens, who now lives in Mobile, Ala., said that residents need to work on keeping their culture.
"It's slipping away very fast," he said.
The parade also brought out many people who moved to Coral Bay from elsewhere and some visitors.
Lynne Wilson, a New York resident just back from serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, said she was on the island for a short vacation. "This is my first time to St. John. It's a beautiful place," she said.
Wilson said she made some new friends and decided to come to the parade to hang out with them.
Susan Prince, a St. John resident, said she came out to enjoy herself and support the Coral Bay community.
Kathy Damon, who lives in the Coral Bay area, gave the same reason when asked why she trekked down the hill.
"And it's a fabulous parade," she said.
All the floats were homegrown, with decorated trucks carrying an assortment of people enjoying themselves.
Carolina Corral owner Dana Bartlett was astride her horse Ginger as she made her way along the parade route, which ran along Route 107 near the Love City Minimart to the town ballfield.
"We have to be part of the parade," Bartlett said.
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