“I was pretty excited,” Coronell said by phone Thursday afternoon. “My first thought was of my mom, who was the grand marshal about 40 years ago.” He joked that he’s practicing his “princess wave” to prepare for the big day.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
On a more serious note, he said that he plans to wear his wolf regalia and is excited to fulfill his duties and share the honor with Patterson, the first Black grand marshal in the history of Juneau’s parade.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“It’s quite the honor. I tell people any success in my life is from my mom and dad. My mom and dad would be proud,” Coronell said. “I feel like I am walking in the footsteps of my ancestors.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Coronell retired from the Juneau Police Department with 25 years of service and multiple awards for bravery and service, including the Officer of the Year award from the Glacier Rotary Club and the Public Service Award from the Alaska Federation of Natives.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
He advocates for the dangers of substance abuse and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. He has served on the Board of Directors for the United Way, been a member of the Steps Leadership team, and served as First Vice President of the Alaska Native Brotherhood camp. He is currently a member of the Laperouse Alaska Association. He’s a longtime delegate for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and a member of the Goldbelt Board of directors since 2006.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Courtesy](\"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/25701548_web1_Marshals-JUE-210704-Ben-Coronell_1.jpg\")
<\/a>Courtesy Photo \/Goldbelt, Inc.\n Benjamin Danny Coronell, who is a retired Juneau Police officer, will serve as a grand marshall in the Juneau parade on July 4.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Sherry Patterson<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Patterson said she was elated and surprised by her selection, which she learned about in October 2019. She said she was initially selected to serve as the grand marshal for the 2020 parade. When COVID-19 related concerns led organizers to cancel the parade last summer, they asked her to consider serving this year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I am humbled and honored to have this election,” she said by phone Friday morning.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Patterson is a Louisiana native. She moved to Alaska in 1974, a few months after graduating from high school. Her professional contributions include a career in finance that spanned more than 36 years. She’s currently the executive office manager for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Patterson is extremely active in the capital city. Her community roles include serving as the president of the Black Awareness Association and acting as the co-chair of First Lady Donna Walker’s Bridge Builders of Juneau. She served on the local leadership council with Big Brothers Big Sisters, was a Healing Hand Foundation board member, and has been an on-call religious counselor at Lemon Creek Correctional Center.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
She is a public speaker and vocalist who performs at local, state and federal events. She has performed for five administrations at the annual Governor’s Mansion Christmas Open House. She’s the recipient of the 2018 Mayor’s Award for the Arts for Achievement in the Arts.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Patterson said the parade’s theme — “Building Bridges Across the Last Frontier” — is pitch-perfect for the current times.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I hope everyone will come out and have a good time. The theme they chose is great and needed. We are so divided during this time, and this is a great chance to come out and build those bridges as a community,” Patterson said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Courtesy](\"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/25701548_web1_Marshals-JUE-210704-Williams_1.jpg\")
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