10/04/58 Downtown Roanoke, Va., hosts parade for United Fund of the Roanoke Valley

Roanokers will stage a parade at the drop of a Baton...(start film)...And today--with the weatherman giving full cooperation, a mile long parade wound intself through the downtown section...(show film) Todays show was to kick-off the United Fund of Roanoke Valley in its money -raising drive. Both TV stations televised the parade. There were the usual high stepping bands, service units, Civic Leaders and pretty Majorettes. Colorful floats delivered the message by telling the story of the United Fund. Roanoke Superintendent of Police Major Frank Webb estimated the crowd at some 15,000. Floats and other vehicles represented all 27 fund agencies. The Color Guard of the Virginia National Guards 116th Infantry, and the Virginia National Guards 90th Army band led a procession of the weapon-bearing military vehicles. Also, entries by dozens of private companies participated in the giant parade. Others included the Army, Army Reserves, Marines, Navy and the Post office department. Before October 31st, UF hopes Roanoke Valley residents will contribute $619,000.