Madison Chamber & Industrial Development issued the following announcement on Nov. 29.
**UPDATE: Parade has been postponed until Sunday, December 2nd at 2:00 pm
After receiving numerous nominations, the parade committee has chosen Captain Brenna Lee of
the Salvation Army of Madison as the Grand Marshal for the Very Merry Madison Christmas Parade.
Captain Brenna may not be known to the entire community, but most have seen her work on display in
some form or fashion during the Christmas season.
Captain Brenna and her husband Vinal lead the Salvation Army in Madison. Brenna plans and
coordinates the Angel Tree program for the Salvation Army each year, which allows 300 kids in 158
families to experience a Christmas they might not otherwise get to experience. She oversees the red
kettle campaign each Christmas, coordinating volunteers and paid bell ringers and the famous red
kettles seen throughout the community. The money raised during the red kettle campaign helps not
only at Christmas, but the whole year through the Salvation Army’s utility assistance, feeding program,
winter shelters, dental clinic, and children’s programs.
Captain Brenna and her husband Vinal have served Madison faithfully since being moved here in
2015. They have served the community through fires and floods, while spending numerous nights in the
Salvation Army headquarters to ensure the winter shelter is open for warmth.
In the nominations for Brenna, she was described as “exemplifying Christmas year-round.
Christmas is not just one day or month for her” because she works throughout the year to “make sure
others can have a better life.” The nominations went on to say “If the spirit of Christmas is magic,
wonder, joy, kindness, and self-sacrifice, that is Brenna.” Another nominator said “From mid-November
through the end of the year, Brenna joyfully runs from place to place in Madison setting up Christmas
trees for Angel Tree, baking cookies, coordinating the ‘Christmas Shop’ for the Angel Tree program,
lining up organizations and individuals to ring bells at kettles, and so much more…leaving her own
Christmas plans second to take care of others.” Finally, a commenter said “The spirit of Christmas is
serving & loving others…Brenna lives that during Christmas and throughout the year.”
Captain Brenna will be near the beginning of the Very Merry Madison Christmas parade in the
honorary “limo golf cart”. The parade is scheduled for this Saturday, December 1 st at 11:00am on Main
Street. However, the parade organizers are watching weather forecasts for Saturday, which may cause it
to be delayed. An announcement about a potential delay would be made on Thursday.
Original source can be found here.
SOURCE: Madison Chamber & Industrial Development