I don’t remember the first Daffodil Parade I was carried in, but it was in 1947.  My family always watched the Daffodil Parade at 21^st and Market in Tacoma. It wasn’t until years later that I started to recognize the various parts of the parade. I remember the Cushman Indian Hospital had a rainbow with a waterfall of real water that leaked onto the ground causing a Tacoma Motorcycle Police Officer to slide into the crowd. I remember waiting for the Tacoma Public Works to paint the line on the street that you had to stay behind during the parade. I remember the Boys Scouts, as they lined the entire Tacoma parade .  At that time the route followed Market Street to St. Helens, then down Broadway to Jefferson then down Commerce to Pacific Avenue and ending at  24^th. It was not unusual to have over 300,000 people lining the parade route.
     It was the years before TV when the Tacoma News Tribune published an entire section of parade photographs. Eight whole pages not counting the front page was not unusual.
     I sometimes get a little emotional about the history and the value the Daffodil Parade provides to the entire Puyallup Valley. I have been involved with the parade all of my life, beginning with the City of Fife and then the Puyallup Tribe’s float which began in 1978.  I am currently a Daffodilian and head of the Puyallup Tribal Float and its associated contingencies.
     I remember proudly the first year that Chief Leschi High School had its first Daffodil Princess. I remember the year that the Tribal float won the Sweepstakes for the first time and all the times since. I remember when I took over the Queen’s float so that all the Princesses could ride on the same float with their Queen. I remember the start of the Educator of the Year program and the necessary float to go with it.
     I sometimes ask what happened to all the community spirit and pride in their Daffodil Floats. I remember the days of the City Light Queen’s float, the business floats from the various lumber companies and various businesses about town. Throughout, we have maintained a proud and glorious history of 75 years of Daffodil Parades. I ask that you remember this, as we prepare for our 75^th Diamond Jubilee Year and “Remembering your First Daffodil Parade”. 

Ron Simchen
Daffodil Festival President 2008