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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation is seeking entries for the 52nd Cherokee National Holiday parade.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, September 4, 2004. Cherokee Nation employee groups and the public are invited to participate in the parade with floats, vehicles, and marching band units. Entries should emphasize the 2004 Holiday theme “The Spirit of the Trail,” which celebrates the enduring spirit of the Cherokee people, past, present and future.

“Despite the (rainy) weather, we had a record number of communities represented last year,” said Ginger Brown, holiday parade coordinator. “We’d like to see even more community involvement this year.”

First, second and third place trophies will be awarded to separate categories of floats, vehicles and business/church/civic organizations. The floating “Ga Du Gi” trophy will be awarded to the Cherokee Nation employee group first place entry. Judges will select the best entries in each category.

Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to first, second and third place marching band or other marching unit.

“We are working to draw more interest from marching bands and communities,” Brown said. “We realize, this is the beginning of the school year, a holiday, and not an ideal time to get students prepared for marching, but with the first place cash prize being $800, perhaps more interest will be given to get the bands involved.”

The parade check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of St. Brigids Catholic Church, located at the corner of Crafton and Oklahoma streets. The parade route will begin at Grand Avenue and Crafton Street, just north of NSU Student Union Center, and will proceed south on Muskogee Avenue, ending at Choctaw Street and Muskogee Avenue.

Official entry forms can be picked up at the Organizational/Employee Development and Communications office, or at the Cherokee First office. Offices are located 3.5 miles south of Tahlequah, Okla. on Hwy. 62. The deadline for entries is 5 p.m., August 25.

This year’s Cherokee National Holiday begins September 3 and runs through September 5. The Cherokee National Holiday has been held since 1953 in commemoration of the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. It has grown into one of the largest events in Oklahoma, attracting more than 90,000 people from across the world.

For parade information, call 918-456-0671 (ext.2559) or (ext.2675). For a full Cherokee National Holiday schedule, visit the Events/Agenda path, or call Louie Slagle, phone: 918-456-0671 or toll free in OK: 1-800-256-0671 (ext.2544).

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org