OSWEGO – A parade of decorated vehicles filled with excited Oswego High School seniors, cruised along Bridge Street last night, June 26, with graduates waving at family, friends and bystanders in celebration of today’s commencement ceremonies.
Last night’s event was an idea thought up by OHS Senior Class President Alli Delfino, along with the help of Mayor Billy Barlow and the city.
The graduating class, along with family members, assembled together at the Creekside Plaza parking lot, in preparation for the procession.
The parade route traveled along Route 104, turned onto West First Street and ended at Breitbeck Park. The procession was led by the Oswego Police Department, with the Oswego Fire Department driving one of it trucks in the parade.
Balloons, banners and paraphernalia hung off vehicles as graduates dressed in caps, gowns and festive wardrobe; erupting in laughter and smiles and posing for pictures before leaving in a back-to-back procession down the road.
“This is definitely not how I pictured senior year, but honestly, I can’t think of a time that they ever did a huge parade or anything for the graduating seniors,” graduate Patsy Milner said.
Milner’s friend, Kaylyne Westberry, added her own sentiments.
“I definitely think this is well put together,” Westberry said.
Parent Lisa Upcraft laughed as she looked at the girls.
“We have to be positive, you know? Not COVID positive, but graduation positive,” Upcraft said.
Max Fisher, Stan Metcalf, Jeremy Crisafulli and Josh Sterio hang off a Jeep loaded with balloons and flags, Crisafulli donning an American-themed cowboy hat. “We’re glad to be done.”” Crisafulli said.
Parent Julie Sterio added her sentiments about the pandemic and the challenges students faced in completing their last year of high school.
“How proud we are of how the kids have handled this whole COVID situation,” Sterio said. “They’ve really done it well and managed to come through this. I think the parents are more upset about everything than the kids are.”
Graduates Amanda Nettles and Adam Gulliver held a banner next to their decorated car, showing their school pride and excitement at the evening’s events.
“It kinda sucks that we weren’t able to do the usual senior stuff, but it’s good to see people come together for this,” Nettles said. “For mine, I wanted to do something special, so on the other side [of the car] I added, since its [LGBT] Pride month, the whole rainbow factor.”
The parade started at 7 p.m., lasting about 20 minutes, the vehicles circling back around the city after the main parade for more fun.
Today’s commencement ceremonies are taking place inside the Oswego Middle School in various groups throughout the day.
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