News: Breakfast at the Parade

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 2:34 PM

Tillie Burgin has been leading Mission Arlington for 23 years. She grew up in Arlington and remembers Arlington’s annual 4th of July parade from decades ago.

Erman Lester, Tillie’s father, ran a full-service gas station directly across from the old city hall. Every July 4th,  Mr. Lester would ice down cokes and sell them for a quarter. Crowds would gather every year at Erman Lester’s station to watch the parade.

Many years ago, SJ Stovall, then chairman of the Mission Metroplex board, initiated a breakfast just prior to Arlington’s historic and celebrated 4th of July parade. The purpose of the breakfast was to honor Mission Arlington’s summer missionaries, young people from all over the nation giving their time to volunteer at the Mission.

As Mission Arlington’s congregations grew, more and more people came to eat breakfast and then to watch the parade.  This year, more than 300 people gathered with the Mission Arlington family to celebrate the fourth.

Mission Arlington is surrounded by so many people throughout our community who cheer us on, and celebrate with us the work of God in our midst. We are ever grateful for you.

We love serving our Lord here with you.

Praise His name!

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