A.L. Mebane’s green and gold shine once again

Green and gold were on prominent display throughout the A.L. Mebane High School Homecoming Reunion celebration.  Saturday’s parade down Alachua’s Main Street was just one event of many that took place over the three-day event.

ALACHUA – While most folks spend the Friday after Thanksgiving either recuperating from overindulging in too much turkey and pumpkin pie, or are madly jumping into the holiday season shopping fray, there is another group of devoted individuals who are otherwise engaged. And chances are they are wearing green and gold and proclaim themselves “Hornets.”

Just as surely as Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November each year, by the following day, A.L. Mebane High School alumni are busy putting the finishing touches on their homecoming celebration, which traditionally commences on Friday and continues into the weekend.

This year was no different as the A. L. Mebane High School Homecoming Reunion put into motion a full schedule of weekend festivities that brings former students and the community together as each graduating class boasts its preeminence over the others.

The series of events began Friday evening at St. Matthew Baptist Church in Alachua with what was described as a “Gospel Explosion.”

On Saturday, Alachua’s downtown was the site of the alumni parade that began at Lee’s Preschool on County Road 241 N., crossed US Highway 441 and then followed Main Street through the historic business district.

Leading the parade was City of Alachua Chief of Police Joel DeCoursey. The event featured a variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and high-stepping horses. Colors of the day were vibrant green and gold that decorated not only parade entries, but also many of the alumni who represented classes from 1957 to 1975.

After the parade, revelers headed over to Mebane Middle School to continue with an afternoon and evening of activities.  The lineup included an alumni luncheon, the Ms. Alumni and Little Miss Alumni pageant and a basketball game.

Sunday marked the conclusion of the homecoming events with a church service at Foundation Chapel Church of God by Faith, Alachua.

The A.L. Mebane High School Alumni Association holds various fundraisers and community projects throughout the year in Alachua and surrounding communities. Money raised during the weekend’s festivities contributes to the scholarship fund of the alumni association.