LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Labor Day was created to honor the American worker, and downtown Lima reflected that pride Monday as community members gathered for the annual parade.
For decades, the Lima Labor Day parade has been a tradition, paying tribute to local men and women who work to provide for their families and the nation. This year’s celebration featured firetrucks, tanks and more rolling down Main Street to the cheers of spectators. But for UAW Local 1765 at the Lima Dana Plant, the event was bittersweet as the plant prepares to close this year.
“This is very meaningful for us, because this is going to be our last Labor Day parade we're going to be able to march in. So, we have our people out here representing that, and we want to show the pride of being a union workforce out there, even though we are closing, I still would think it's important that the people be out here to march,” said Bryan McClurg, president of Dana - UAW Local 1765.
For UAW Local 1219 from the Ford Engine Plant, Labor Day remains a celebration of both history and the future of the labor movement.
“With corporate greed at all time high. It's very important that we can't say the importance of labor is enough, because even though if we get raises, everybody gets raises. So, unions kind of set the wages for everybody. We have members right now strike down in Cincinnati, Ohio, local 647, we're heading there after the parade to take in some goods for the strike line," said Jeff Adams, president of UAW Local 1219.
The parade also highlighted Spartan Pride, with Lima City Schools students, staff, families and supporters marching in celebration.
“We want to engage with the community. Remind everybody the importance of not only the holiday, but Spartan family and getting out here and just making sure everybody sees it. We're visible, we're accessible, and we're having a good time with our neighborhoods," said Andre Rudolph, superintendent of Lima City Schools.
After honoring the spirit of the American worker, parade participants and spectators alike looked forward to enjoying a well-deserved day of rest — and maybe a piece of candy or two.
