From Portland's better times: 1990 Rose Festival 1" souvenir pin-back.  Held that year during June 1-24th with the Grand Floral Parade marshaled on June 9th. Erin Neill representing Cleveland High School was crowned The Royal Queen. The theme was "Simply Send Roses." All seemed normal. 

The Rose Festival and its celebratory Grand Floral Parade has been an annual event since 1907 filled with "civic pride" and lots of pomp and circumstance. BUT THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE: Portland has fallen on hard times that have changed the City of Roses and its landscape (including the eviscerated Rose Festival) in many ways that are heartbreaking. Indeed, after living in PDX for 75+ years I had to move out and away from the city because I could no longer stand it. 

ROYALTY COMES AT A PRICE