By Steve Christy
As your Supervisor, one of my favorite Vail community events to attend and participate in each year is Vail Pride Day. And this year’s extravaganza topped them all.
For me, it began on the preceding Thursday in the Old Pueblo Hall at the Pima County Fairgrounds. A huge luncheon was held there to give thanks and acknowledgement to all of the Vail Pride Day volunteers and activists who work so tirelessly and selflessly to make Vail Pride Day succeed. And what a lunch! I’ve heard that some 600 Vail community members attended this delicious buffet to appreciate our community’s involvement. Each Vail School District school recognized a devoted “Volunteer of the Year” and it was indeed heart-warming to see the outpouring of appreciation they all so enthusiastically received from their peers and the community of Vail. Further, it was also most gratifying to witness how humbly and surprised the “Volunteers of the Year” award recipients reacted as they were each recognized and asked to come forward before those 600 people.
Such true dedication displayed by the awardees for Vail’s schools, students, faculty, staff and our community reflected perfectly the term “pride” in Vail Pride Day. The number of dedicated hours given by our volunteers to our school district was calculated to be in excess of an astounding 50,000 hours. The enthusiasm, excitement, and yes, affection felt in that hall was sincere, moving, and motivating.
The luncheon also gave us the opportunity to welcome back John Carruth in his new role as Vail School District Superintendent. Mr. Carruth eloquently expressed the true essence of what was felt by all in attendance. After being in Phoenix for a “gap year” with the State, he repeated that sentiment several times in his remarks; he left Phoenix and returned “home” to Vail.
Saturday was just as impressive with the attendance and community enthusiasm at the Fairgrounds, in general, and Thurber Hall in particular. Thurber Hall showcased the annual student awards, attended by hundreds that honored and recognized our exceptional and talented Vail School District students. Numerous competitive academic categories were highlighted by winners who made remarkable efforts to lead in each. It was my honor to bestow the appropriate awards to the individual and team student winners. Again, you could see pride in the faces and eyes of these dedicated Vail School District students, their parents, their teachers, and the Vail School District administrators. These terrific students are our future and after Vail Pride Day, I can confidently state that our future has never looked brighter.
After the awards ceremony, I joined scores of community leaders and volunteers in the Vail Pride Day Parade that wound its way through the fairgrounds. As we marched and waved at the hundreds of Vail residents who lined the parade route, I again realized how lucky we all are to have such Pride in our Vail community, and how much I love being your Supervisor.
