Michaele McKeever-Davis said the Blandford Reunion Parade began in the late 80s and is held yearly on the second Saturday in September.

"We start off on Thursday with a gospel fest. Friday is the meet and greet," McKeever-Davis explained. "Today is the big day."

The reunion, which takes place at the school yard of the Blandford Academy, is important for families because it brings a lot of people home each year, according to McKeever-Davis.

"People come from all over the nation to come home to Blandford," one woman attending the celebration said. "This is history."

McKeever-Davis, who was "born and raised" on nearby Crater Road, said the reunion "means everything" to the tight-knit community.

"We're one of the many communities located here in Petersburg. You have the Heights, you have

See Full Page