BRINNON — This year’s Brinnon Loyalty Day parade was larger and longer than those in years past, drawing nearly 200 people to the south county town.
Half of those in attendance marched in the parade.
The parade was led by Jefferson County Sheriff David Stanko, followed by county officials, Veterans of Foreign Wars members, children, horses, floats and the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival royalty.
The parade also lasted about nine minutes, a good four minutes longer than in 2014.
It ended with the inauguration of the community’s ceremonial mayor, George Sickel, who will begin his second term in the post.
Since Brinnon, which is on U.S. Highway 101 about 12 miles south of Quilcene on the Hood Canal, is not a municipality — and has no real mayor — the election for the tongue-in-cheek position is, well, tongue-in-cheek.
There is no limit as to how many times a person can vote. Ballot box stuffing is actually encouraged.
Each vote requires a $1 contribution, with proceeds going to the Brinnon Parks and Recreation Commission.
And the person with the most votes doesn’t necessarily prevail.
The winner’s name is drawn from a bag.
Sickel had the edge. He drew more than 500 votes as opposed to about 60 for Joe Searight, according to Brinnon Parks Commissioner Nicole Black.
Karen Sickel, George’s wife, said she kicked in about $120 to improve her husband’s chances.
It was a successful election, according to Black, because it raised enough to pay the park district’s insurance bill.
In his acceptance speech, Sickel promised reduced taxes, improved health care and faster response time for police and fire.
“If anyone else has a pet peeve, they can just contact my wife,” he said.
The mayor serves for one year, and there are no term limits, Black said.
At a brief ceremony after the parade, certificates of appreciation were distributed to 25 individuals and organizations, and Clayton Schleich, 12, was announced the winner of the VFW essay competition.
Loyalty Day was first observed nationally in 1921 as Americanization Day and was designated an official holiday by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958.
The official designation is May 1, but the Brinnon celebration — held for 28 years — is usually the last Friday of April.
One hour after the beginning of the parade, the streets were clear and the morning’s drizzle had resumed.
“We’ve never been rained out,” said Brinnon resident Carolyn McAndrew.
“Sometimes it rains in the morning, but as soon as the parade starts, the sun comes out.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
