Steve Ralph | The Holland Sentinel
Holland, MI - The fourth annual West Michigan Works Labor Day Parade featured a convoy of 48 vehicles representing at least 42 area employers, culminating in a celebration at Eighth Street Market Place in downtown Holland.
The celebration included free hot dogs served up by Boar’s Head Provisions of Holland Township and giveaways by many of the participating companies.
“We had a really great turnout - it just keeps growing,” said Cindy Franco of West Michigan Works.
Participating trucks began gathering at Herman Miller in Zeeland at 8 a.m. to line up. The process of taking a tractor-trailer down a mile-long parade route through downtown Zeeland and Holland goes something like this:
8:30 a.m. - The lineup of parade vehicles - mostly company semis but also a Hope College bus, some vintage trucks, a handful of minivans and a Tiara yacht pulled on a trailer - lines a serpentine drive within the Herman Miller property.
The lead truck is Herman Miller’s parade entry, driven by Dan Corey.
Corey’s been driving big rigs for more than 30 years, the past decade for Herman Miller.
9:29 a.m. - “Go, go, roll out!” yells Herman Miller’s local fleet coordinator Denny Meyer, waving his arms like an army commando urging the troops into position.
The police cruisers up front turn on their flashers and the long convoy finally starts moving, 14 minutes behind schedule.
9:38 a.m. - Corey makes the turn onto Main Avenue going 6 miles per hour - customary parade speed, he says - and the first spectators are spotted.
“I guess I’ll start blowing the horn. The kids love it,” he says.
As the flagship semi approaches downtown Zeeland, where crowds are more densely clustered, Corey’s statement seems to be borne out. While a handful of children are seen covering their ears, far more - and more than a few adults - give the up-and-down fist-pumping motion, the sign for truckers to blow their horns.
When you’re riding in the cab of the leading truck in a parade, you notice you’d better smile and wave at the crowds as you pass.
The feeling is catching as seniors, young couples, teens and families with small children respond to the greeting.
Corey seems to feel the warmth as well.
“This is a great town, you know it?” he muses as the truck approaches the corner of Main Avenue and State Street.
10:18 a.m. - Having quickened the pace on Chicago Drive - all the way up to 20 mph at one point - the convoy reaches Eighth Street and downtown Holland. Here the crowds are even bigger, and by the time the lead truck reaches River Avenue, the streets are packed on both sides with waving arms and smiling faces.
10:27 a.m. - Corey pulls into the Holland Civic Center parking lot, and within 30 minutes all the trucks are lined up in two rows. The crowd moves from the parade route to the parking lot and descends on the assembled trucks for free goodies and an opportunity to board some of the rigs and the yacht.
Check out the images from our events in our photo gallery.