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Lonnie Martin selected as grand marshal of parade
Sponsored annually by the Lincolnton Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, the parade is part of the Holidays in Olde Lincoln Towne Festival which includes a community Thanksgiving service, "Pioneer Day" at the Lincoln County Historical Park, "Breakfast With Our Legislators," and a candlelight tour of homes. In order to select the grand marshal for the parade, the chamber of commerce sponsored an essay contest in which local residents answered the question, "Who should be the grand marshal of the Lincolnton Holiday Parade and why?" This year's winning essay was written by Marcia Kirkland. It is reprinted here in its entirety: "I have often heard it said, 'If you have much, give of your wealth. If you have little, give of your heart.' I am not sure exactly which part of the phrase applies to Lonnie Martin. I guess it just depends on what wealth means to someone. "Lonnie Martin was a name that I had heard long before I moved to Lincoln County almost 24 years ago. It was always around the time of the prom, a wedding reception or any social event within a hundred miles or more. I just knew that he must be one of the wealthiest men around because those events that I attended were decorated out of this world. "Then it happened. I had the opportunity to help with an event where Lonnie was in charge. Within minutes, he transformed a dreadful dining hall into a winter wonderland - I was amazed. I had always heard that he could take a 'dumpster full of trash' and make it into whatever was desired by the host or hostess, and it was always a success. His passion for making dreams happen has, without a doubt, made him a very popular person. "Even after viewing many of his real life Cinderella creations, I, along with many others, were more impressed by his desire to help. Lonnie's wealth does not come from material things but from his heart. He uses his talents for anyone and asks for absolutely nothing in return. "Over the past couple of years, Lonnie has undergone many treatments for cancer, but you would never know unless you heard a family member or friend talking about it. A laugh from one of his jokes is the best medicine for him. "He never complains - unless you don't listen when he tells you to do something while working on a project, because things must be perfect! When we were decorating for the prom last year, Lonnie had just received a chemo treatment and was not feeling his best. Nevertheless, he made it a point to be there to make sure we put on all the final touches. As always, it turned out fabulous. "Furthermore, I have heard stories from members of Lonnie's family about how he has taken care of them since the death of their parents. I am so moved by his dedication to his family and his unselfish acts. Others, who have worked with him, have also shared how Lonnie has helped them out in times of need and without reservation. "I am sure that everyone in this town has been touched by Lonnie's talent, good humor or acts of kindness, whether they knew it or not. If we all followed his example of giving of ourselves without expecting something in return, we would all be wealthy in the things that really mean the most in life! "Therefore, I submit Lonnie Martin as a candidate for grand marshal of the 2007 Lincolnton Holiday Parade, based on his dedication and service to his community." As grand marshal of the Lincolnton Holiday Parade, Martin will be further recognized at the annual chamber of commerce banquet in January. Out of the 14 nominations received this year for grand marshal, an unprecedented eight were for Martin. Past grand marshals include Bruce Beggs, Mary Glaze, Emma Smith, Joe Otis "Mr. Bud" Hawes, Murray and Mickey Norman, Coach Thomas Bunch, Welcome Mason, Frances Prater, Willie Harris, Ben Ross, and A.H. Wengrow. |
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