Very Merry Madison Christmas Parade Grand Marshall Announced

ALSO, officials will be making a decision on a potential parade delay due to the weather

After receiving numerous nominations, the parade committee has chosen Captain Brenna Lee of the Salvation Army of Madison as the Grand Marshal for the Very Merry Madison Christmas Parade. Captain Brenna may not be known to the entire community, but most have seen her work on display in some form or fashion during the Christmas season.

Captain Brenna and her husband Vinal lead the Salvation Army in Madison. Brenna plans and coordinates the Angel Tree program for the Salvation Army each year, which allows 300 kids in 158 families to experience a Christmas they might not otherwise get to experience. She oversees the red kettle campaign each Christmas, coordinating volunteers and paid bell ringers and the famous red kettles seen throughout the community. The money raised during the red kettle campaign helps not only at Christmas, but the whole year through the Salvation Army’s utility assistance, feeding program, winter shelters, dental clinic, and children’s programs.

Captain Brenna and her husband Vinal have served Madison faithfully since being moved here in 2015. They have served the community through fires and floods, while spending numerous nights in the Salvation Army headquarters to ensure the winter shelter is open for warmth.

In the nominations for Brenna, she was described as “exemplifying Christmas year-round. Christmas is not just one day or month for her” because she works throughout the year to “make sure others can have a better life.” The nominations went on to say “If the spirit of Christmas is magic, wonder, joy, kindness, and self-sacrifice, that is Brenna.” Another nominator said “From mid-November through the end of the year, Brenna joyfully runs from place to place in Madison setting up Christmas trees for Angel Tree, baking cookies, coordinating the ‘Christmas Shop’ for the Angel Tree program, lining up organizations and individuals to ring bells at kettles, and so much more…leaving her own Christmas plans second to take care of others.” Finally, a commenter said “The spirit of Christmas is serving & loving others…Brenna lives that during Christmas and throughout the year.”

Captain Brenna will be near the beginning of the Very Merry Madison Christmas parade in the honorary “limo golf cart”. The parade is scheduled for this Saturday, December 1st at 11:00am on Main Street. However, the parade organizers are watching weather forecasts for Saturday, which may cause it to be delayed. An announcement about a potential delay would be made on Thursday.