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As word of the Yellow Trail Museum’s nomination as Grand Marshal of the 57^th Annual Hope Heritage Days spread across social media a little more than a month ago, a flood of deserving congratulations flooded online comments and conversations around town.

It was exciting news atop the already celebratory vibes surrounding the museum's 50th anniversary celebration this year.

When the announcement was made by Heritage of Hope board members Jenni Richards and Chad Miller on August 7, Yellow Trail board members Jessica Deckard and Susan Thayer Fye were present to accept and receive the honor on behalf of the museum.

As caretaker and collection repository of Hope history, the museum’s growth and community contributions have made the organization’s well-deserved nomination a long time in the making, many say.

Deckard has attended Hope Heritage Days since she was a child and says the pomp and circumstance of all the costumed attendees made the event special growing up.

“I loved seeing them in the crowds,” she recalls. “I also remember the pioneer games that used to be held in the Square.”

One year the young Deckard won a Susan B. Anthony coin, she says. “It was promptly spent in the flea market,” she adds.

And, of course, there was the year she got to ride in her father’s 1927 Oldsmobile in the parade.

“It quit during the parade route and Dad had to push it,” she says. “One of the spectators yelled, ‘That’s what you get for driving a horseless carriage!’”

Today, to be representative of the organization in the spotlight during this year's Hope Heritage Days is an honor, she says.

Board member Bill Johnson agrees calling the nomination a “tremendous honor”.

“The honor is not just about the current museum and its members, but also a way of honoring all those individuals, through time, who have contributed to making the museum – and the town – what it is today,” he says.

Taking a bit of an unconventional perspective about the museum and its role in the Hope community, Johnson says though he enjoys looking back, he’s focused on what’s ahead.

“I honestly believe that the Yellow Trail is focused squarely on our local future,” he says. “The events we hold are intended to engage future generations to come.”

He adds that other local organizations’ efforts to likewise engage the community dovetails nicely with the museum’s mission and purpose, as well as its obligation to future generations.

“I believe many local organizations that host and support their own events share the same mindset,” Johnson says. “And we are all working towards that exact purpose.”

One great example of the museum’s efforts is the Talking Tombstones program, offered in collaboration with the Bartholomew County Historical Society, that recently offered the first of this season’s tours last Friday at the Hope Moravian Cemetery.

Deckard, who participated in the event portraying Prudence Wintterowd Douglas, says a lot of thought and consideration goes into the grand marshal selection process.

“It is always someone who is deeply committed to the community,” she says. I think “It’s wonderful the museum’s work is being honored.”

As she practices her wave and looks forward to riding in the parade atop the Yellow Trail’s float, what’s more exciting is introducing her young daughter, Jo, to her first parade, Deckard says.

Now that she’s got her costume selected and ready to go, remaining focus shifts to the completion of the museum’s parade entry.

The Yellow Trail Museum’s float this year will be representative of an artifact from one of the founding members of the museum and Hope Heritage Days’ history, Deckard teases.

So far, mums the word on additional details.