Surprise parade helps Hempfield teen mark milestone birthday
Kolby Liston is fascinated by fire trucks and loves parades.
Those two elements came together Sunday afternoon to provide the Hempfield teen a memorable 18th birthday celebration. Arranged by his sister Katelyn Larsen of Youngwood, about 50 vehicles driven by first responders, friends or relatives delivered birthday wishes and gifts as they passed in front of his family’s home.
“It was far beyond anything I ever expected,” said Larsen, who planned the drive-by event as an alternate to a more traditional party that would have exceeded guidelines for safe gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.
Liston, who is on the autism spectrum, responded with thumbs up and salutes as the vehicles wound their way through his neighborhood. “Thank you, guys,” he shouted, adding, “My heart is pounding really fast.”
“He loves the (fire) trucks and he gets their attention,” Larsen said of her brother. “He gets all the extra horns and beeps at the parades. He just brings smiles to everybody.”
To bring the birthday parade together, Larsen and other family members reached out to acquaintances in the local firefighting community, including her uncle, Greenburg Assistant Fire Chief Rick Hoyle.
Such parades have become frequent community service efforts for area fire companies during the pandemic, Hoyle said.
But the parade for his nephew, which started at the nearby Bovard fire hall, was exceptional for its size, he said.
“I never expected it to be as big as it was,” he said. “There were a lot of big hearts and outpouring. We appreciate what everybody has been going through recently.”
Led by state police vehicles, Sunday’s lineup included an ambulance crew and fire trucks from more than a half dozen area departments. A member of the Greensburg Fire Department marching band played “Happy Birthday.”
The well-wishers also included the principal and some of the nuns who operate the nearby Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children, which Liston has missed attending since the pandemic prompted closure of all K-12 schools in the state.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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