48th Annual West Alabama Christmas Parade To Honor Service Dogs

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) on Friday announced that Libby, the retired reading companion dog, and Chris Willingham, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and president of the U.S. War Dogs Association, will serve as Grand Marshals for the 48th Annual West Alabama Christmas Parade on Monday, Dec. 9.

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The parade is set to begin at 6:30 p.m., following the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse at 5:30 p.m.

Libby is a beloved alumni of the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter (TMAS) and is well-known for her work with the Libby Listens program.

Founded by TMAS’s Humane Education Coordinator Mary Calhoun, the program has brought Libby into local schools since 2015, where children read aloud to her as a way to build literacy skills.

Libby’s service has benefited thousands of students while also promoting responsible pet ownership. She recently retired after nearly a decade of service.

Joining Libby as Grand Marshal will be Chris Willingham — a retired U.S. Marine Master Sergeant who spent two decades in the military, much of it working with the Military Working Dog (MWD) Program.

Willingham’s partner, Lucca, a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois, served as a specialized search dog in Iraq and Afghanistan, completing over 400 missions in which no human lives were lost under her watch.

Lucca was injured by an improvised explosive device during her final mission but made a remarkable recovery, earning the prestigious Dickin Medal and the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery.

Willingham now leads the U.S. War Dogs Association, advocating for the critical role of MWDs and their handlers.

The parade will be themed "Santa’s Workshop," and begin at the intersection of Greensboro Avenue and 11th Street, before traveling north on Greensboro Avenue. The parade will then turn right onto University Boulevard, and conclude at University Boulevard and 19th Avenue.

Parade registration is open, with fees of $40 for judged entries and $35 for non-judged.

A mandatory participant meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 5:45 p.m. at the Belk Activity Center.

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