‘Mr. Brownsville Jr.’ honored with parade
Photos courtesy of Herb Mitchell
Fire trucks lined the streets of Brownsville during a Nov. 4 parade in honor of Jackie Conner.
Photos courtesy of Herb Mitchell
Jackie Conner of Brownsville took center stage following a Nov. 4 parade held in his honor.
Courtesy of Herb Mitchell
Brownsville resident Jackie Conner served as the grand marshal during a Nov. 4 parade in his honor.
Photos: courtesy of Herb Mitchell
Jackie Conner, center, rides atop a fire truck during a Nov. 4 parade held in his honor.
Those who live in Brownsville likely know Jackie Conner.
无毛视频淗e无毛视频檚 a Brownsville fixture. He无毛视频檚 like Kennywood Day and Fiddles无毛视频� hotdogs,无毛视频� South Brownsville Volunteer Fire Company Chief Ron Barry said. 无毛视频淚f Frank Ricco is 无毛视频楳r. Brownsville,无毛视频� Jackie is 无毛视频楳r. Brownsville Jr.,无毛视频� and he无毛视频檚 the best goodwill ambassador we have.无毛视频�
Conner, 57, dreamed of being a firefighter, but was unable to do so. However, he无毛视频檚 known to fire departments throughout the region as their biggest supporter and unofficial mascot, so when he made a special request, they answered the call in a big way.
无毛视频淚 grew up with Jackie, and he无毛视频檚 always been a huge fan of the fire department. When I became chief, he无毛视频檇 come to me all the time asking how he could help. He comes to bingo and all our events, and we all take turns taking him to the local parades; so, we all look after him,无毛视频� Barry said.
Following a string of hospital visits, Conner无毛视频檚 sister, Joyce Hampton, recorded a video of him recovering from surgery in October. When she asked what he wanted most in the world, he said, 无毛视频渁 big parade无毛视频� and listed all the fire departments he wanted in attendance. His wish came true Nov. 4, when hundreds of people packed downtown Brownsville for Jackie Conner Day.
无毛视频淚 posted the video at 10 p.m. on a Saturday night about two weeks ago, and my phone never stopped ringing until the parade was over. Everyone wanted to know how they could help, what they could do. That无毛视频檚 one good thing about social media 无毛视频� when it works well, you reach a lot of people,无毛视频� Barry said. 无毛视频淚 reached out to Chief Richard Black and asked, 无毛视频楧o you think we can have a little parade for Jackie?无毛视频� He said, 无毛视频楢bsolutely not. He无毛视频檚 going to get a big one. A huge one. He deserves it.'无毛视频�
Black, of neighboring Brownsville Fire Company No. 1, joined forces with Hampton; Conner无毛视频檚 brother, Barry Miller; and Brownsville Mayor Ross Swords to plan the perfect parade, with Conner serving as grand marshal. More than 70 fire trucks from 37 fire departments, the Brownsville Junior/Senior High School Marching Band, local businesses and nonprofit organizations, and countless people who know and love Conner lined the streets for the festivities.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e lived in Brownsville my whole life, and that was the biggest parade I ever remember us having. We used to have some big ones, but nothing like this. It was just overwhelming. Everybody came out for Jackie,无毛视频� Barry said. 无毛视频淢y truck was last in the parade, so I used the (public address) system to tell the crowd, 无毛视频業t无毛视频檚 just like the old days,无毛视频� and everyone cheered, because they remember how things used to be. It brought a tear to your eye just being there.无毛视频�
Following the parade, Conner addressed the crowd from center stage at the downtown amphitheater. Because he named the LaBelle Fire Department first on his guest list, the station gifted him with a custom fire helmet and jacket. He also received more than 20 T-shirts from other fire departments, along with gifts and Jackie Conner Day proclamations from state and local legislators, businesses and more.
Many revelers wore t-shirts bearing the slogan, 无毛视频淲e got your back, Jack,无毛视频� and handmade signs bore sentiments like, 无毛视频淏rownsville loves you, Jackie!无毛视频� Conner wasn无毛视频檛 shy about taking the microphone to address the crowd and invite his friends on stage.
无毛视频淲hen Brownsville hosted the annual Fayette County Firemen无毛视频檚 Convention in 2021, Jackie asked if he could be grand marshal of the parade, and it broke my heart to have to tell him that we already had one,无毛视频� Barry said. 无毛视频淚t was wonderful to see him be the center of attention this time. There无毛视频檚 hardly a person in this town that doesn无毛视频檛 know Jack, so he deserves it.无毛视频�
All in attendance sang and danced along to the Jackie Conner Day theme song, 无毛视频淧ut a Little Love in Your Heart,无毛视频� by Al Green and Annie Lennox. Hotdogs, beverages and other refreshments were donated by businesses and citizens for the occasion. A meet-and-greet with the guest of honor saw hundreds take photos with Conner, and the festivities concluded with an oldies dance at the Brownsville Sons of Italy 无毛视频� Frank Ricco Lodge No. 731.
无毛视频淗e was out there boogying and having a good time. It was his day 无毛视频� whatever he wanted. We were determined to fulfill his every wish that day and, if we didn无毛视频檛 do it, we came pretty close,无毛视频� Barry said.
Conner无毛视频檚 family has organized a fundraising campaign to assist with his medical expenses. To contribute, visit www.GoFundMe.com and search 无毛视频淛ackie Conner,无毛视频� or contact the South Brownsville Fire Department at 724-785-8448.
While Brownsville came together to make his dreams come true, it无毛视频檚 Jackie Conner who无毛视频檚 left a lasting impact on his community.
无毛视频淛ackie probably lies in bed at night 无毛视频� just like the rest of us 无毛视频� and wonders what his purpose is. Even if he doesn无毛视频檛 know it, we all know it now. He was put on this Earth to show there is pure love in the world. He无毛视频檚 a beautiful soul, and we could all learn a little bit from him. We should all be so lucky,无毛视频� Barry said. 无毛视频淪ome are born with the ability to be a firefighter and others aren无毛视频檛. You need three things 无毛视频� a sharp mind, skilled hands and a big heart. The first two, Jackie may not have necessarily been blessed with, but the third one; he has enough heart for everyone. For that reason, he无毛视频檚 more of a firefighter than all of us.无毛视频�