WELTI, Ala. – Joseph Kanaday thought a couple of his buddies were going to drive by his home to wish him a quick happy birthday Tuesday afternoon. He was in for a huge surprise as a couple of buddies turned into a parade of cars, firetrucks and area law enforcement who showed up to make his 19th birthday one to remember.
Joseph, a senior at Fairview High School, has been at home and unable to see his friends since the week before school was let out in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he has chatted with them and stayed in touch through social media, he missed his friends. His parents, Jeff and Muriel Kanaday, wanted to do something special for their son for his birthday.
Muriel explained she originally just hoped to get a couple of people to come by and leave him a few things. She posted her idea to Facebook and soon the community and Joseph’s Fairview classmates began organizing something a little bigger.
She said, “It just blew up! He has lots of friends, classmates, neighbors, family…it’s just a little bit of everybody.”
Joseph has gone to Fairview since kindergarten and helps with the basketball team.
Muriel added, “He’s very involved at Cullman Park and Rec’s Therapeutic (Recreation) Program. They have a little group they call the ‘Downs Club.’ There’s about four or five boys and they all go out and do stuff. They go to the movies and they are all kind of the same age.”
As Joseph patiently waited at the end of his driveway proudly wearing a shirt that read “My 19th Birthday 2020 The One Where I Was Quarantined,” the parade was lining up at Welti School.
Joseph was thrilled just to see the first couple of cars stop by, but suddenly, as he saw the Walter Volunteer Fire Department truck round the curve, his smile turned into a full-on happy dance. Behind the firetruck was a line of cars as far as the eye could see filled with family, classmates and other friends and well-wishers from throughout the community. They came with signs, balloons and gifts, including a coveted roll of toilet paper. Some even shot off a few fireworks and cans of silly string.
Vehicle after vehicle shared in Joseph’s birthday excitement. They came in cars, patrol cars, tractors and even on hoverboards. His Class of 2020 classmates made sure to play a few of Joseph’s favorite tunes as they made their way to celebrate with him. Social distancing was difficult, and despite everyone hoping to give a Joseph a birthday hug, they settled for his greeting of choice- elbow bumps.
When asked how the birthday party parade made him feel, he simply smiled from ear to ear as AC/DC’s “Back in Black” played, and shouted, “I LOVE IT!”
Joseph received his own yellow hardhat from the Cullman Electric Cooperative, a visit from both Walter and Joppa VFDs, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office and the Arab Police Department.
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