DJ Transit hosted its 4th Annual Celebrate Our Seniors Parade on Thursday, June 20th at 10 a.m. on West Drive in Laurel. The event featured vehicles from the Laurel Police Department, the Laurel Fire Department, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and many other local agencies.
The parade is held annually to honor those living in the nursing care facilities along West Drive as well as to recognize Mississippi’s Community Transportation Awareness Day. Many senior citizens throughout the state rely on the services of community transportation programs such as DJ Transit.
“It shows that they are appreciated. They know it’s for them and they look forward to it,” Activities Director Lisa Young of Comfort Care said about the residents’ enjoyment of the event.
In April, members of the community met with Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee to discuss the importance of such programs. During the meeting, Mayor Magee signed a proclamation to designate June 20th as Mississippi Community Transportation Awareness Day 2024 in the City of Laurel.
The proclamation read as follows:
Whereas, the City of Laurel, Mississippi joins the Mississippi Public Transit Association in recognition of “Mississippi Community Transportation Awareness Day”; and
Whereas, this celebration is in conjunction with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) national public transit celebration days; and
Whereas, the City of Laurel, Mississippi, is committed to community transportation to serve the individual needs of transit for workforce development, economic growth, education, healthcare and quality of life needs; and
Whereas, the importance of safe, affordable community transportation to the people of the state is vital to the well-being and health of the citizens of Laurel, Mississippi; and
Whereas, the City of Laurel, Mississippi recognizes that it will collaborate with transportation providers in promoting community transportation and its enhancements in the lives of individuals of every age by committing to the following:
Secure transportation for our constituents to maintain healthcare needs and employment
Promote transportation for community nutritional meal sites and senior activity programs
Provide transportation for individuals to educational facilities and meet their quality of life needs
Now, therefore, I Johnny Magee, Mayor of the City of Laurel, Mississippi, do hereby proclaim June 20, 2024 as Mississippi Community Transportation Awareness Day 2024 in the City of Laurel and do hereby urge every resident to join me in taking the time to ride community transportation on this day.
In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Laurel, Mississippi, be affixed this the 29th day of April, 2024.
