South Piedmont Community College had a fun connection to the 79th Annual Novant Health Thanksgiving Parade this year: Visual Arts and Humanities Program Lead Morganne van Voorhis served as a grand marshal.
“It was really fun. My son, Atlas, was excited to ride in the horse-drawn carriage,” van Voorhis said.
Having her son ride alongside her in the parade was fitting, given it was his birth that led to van Voorhis being invited to participate in the parade.
Shortly after Atlas, now 3, was born, van Voorhis took a photo of her husband, Caleb, holding Atlas’s hand. The photo became a drawing that van Voorhis eventually showcased at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center. Novant Health Arts in Health Facilitator Shana Templin assisted with getting van Voorhis’ drawing installed at the hospital. Templin served as the parade’s other grand marshal.
“We had a long fertility struggle, so that moment was very sweet and precious,” van Voorhis said. “The photo was taken at Novant, and my husband actually delivered the drawing to Novant on the day that I was induced with my daughter, Zoe, over the summer. There were a lot of full-circle moments.”
As a grand marshal, van Voorhis, along with Atlas, Zoe, and Caleb, rode in a horse-drawn carriage at the beginning of the parade lineup and waved to attendees as the parade made its way through uptown Charlotte.