Boy Who Returned $8,000 Found at Salem Park Named New Halloween Parade Grand Marshall

On Saturday, 7-year-old Aiden Wright was just planning on spending the day at Memorial Park, much like many other boys his age in Salem.

Now, thanks to a selfless act he made that day, turning in $8,000 he found in a checkbook on a slide to police, Wright will be the Grand Marshall of one of the world’s biggest Halloween parades.

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll announced on Wednesday that Wright will be joining the Salem Chamber of Commerce’s Haunted Happenings Grand Parade as a Grand Marshall on Thursday.

“Aiden’s selfless action is certainly worth recognizing,” said Driscoll. “By naming him as the Grand Marshall for the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade we can thank him for his altruism, celebrate what it means to do the right thing, and encourage others to emulate his decision to think of others before themselves. One of the many characteristics that make Salem so special is that spirit of community and charity; that we may be a vibrant and bustling city in reality, but that, in spirit, we are all neighbors. I’m honored that Aiden will be marching in this year’s Haunted Happenings Grand Parade as Grand Marshall.”

Wright told WBZ News that when he ran up the slide at the park, he found the checkbook and then gave it to his uncle.

The checkbook and money belonged to a local contractor who had just been paid. As a reward, the contractor gave Wright $100.

Over 80 schools, marching bands, floats, businesses and individual groups are expected to participate in the parade, which is a night-time tradition that brings out the entire city and people from all of the surrounding cities and towns to kick off the Halloween season. It is filled with color, pageantry, music and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students from kindergarten to college age and local business owners.

The parade will take place rain or shine, and will start at 6:30pm at Shetland Office Park.

The parade will be starting from Shetland Properties on Congress Street turning left onto Derby Street, right onto Central Street, left onto Front Street, right onto Washington Street, right onto the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and finishing in the Salem Common, where DJ Doug will entertain the crowd.

Photo via WBZ TV 4/CBS News Boston