For most Bermudians, May 24 marks the beginning of summer. Bermuda Day is celebrated in conjunction with that date as a public holiday on the last Friday of May. Also known as Heritage Day, it is a time to showcase the island’s culture and heritage.
This year the St. George’s Cahow Pathfinder Club celebrated the holiday a day early with the seniors of two nursing homes located at the eastern end of the island. They hosted a mini-parade with floats designed and built by the club members. Their theme was, “Show Me the Way.”
Each float was beautifully decorated to showcase various navigational tools used throughout history. One float reminded the viewers of how the North Star was used in years past, especially by maritime travelers. On the float was the text Genesis 1:14, ”Let there be lights in the firmament . . . and let them be for signs, and for seasons.”
Leading the procession was a Pathfinder flag made from fuzzy balls. Club director Marie Binns told the residents and staff of the seniors’ homes that, “This flag represents the world Pathfinder movement. This movement teaches children and youth to find their way through life with God’s guidance.”
As Binns moderated the parade, she said that each of the floats showed a different skill or honor that the Adventurers and Pathfinders had attained through careful study and practice.
The succeeding floats pulled by the Adventurers and Pathfinders gave the onlookers the opportunity to see directional means used over thousands of years. The constellation float showcased the Big Dipper and the North Star and reminded viewers that stars were used since the beginning of time to help people find their way.
The Pathfinders indicated their grasp of compass use and lighthouses by incorporating these elements into other floats. The second to last float in the procession featured a signpost that offered directions to the onlookers.
The float bringing up the rear seemed to be a bit brighter and told of the ultimate way to give someone directions in life. The last float featured a beautifully designed open Bible!
Through the float-building experience, the St. George’s Cahow Pathfinder Club reinforced their knowledge of navigational tools while earning honors and witnessing to members of the community. During their visit to the second seniors’ home, the mayor of the Town of St. George stopped by to see the exciting ministry in which the children were engaged. He expressed with enthusiasm his appreciation for the young people visiting with the seniors and giving them a taste of Bermuda Day the Pathfinder way.
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Cyril Millett III, Sabbath School director and pastor, Bermuda Conference
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