WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — A week-long celebration came to a close Saturday night at Howard University.
Despite rumors about Vice President Kamala Harris visiting her alma mater's Homecoming, the Democratic nominee for president did not make an appearance at Saturday's parade.
Still, the party went on as planned -- Bison students as well as alumni from near and far came to celebrate Howard University’s 100th Homecoming celebration.
“It’s the best day ever because you get to see the bands, you get to see the people. Everybody comes from everywhere," said Gwendolynn Randall. "This is just a celebration for DC, period.”
Randall, a 1974 Howard alumni, traveled from her home in Palm Beach, Florida to Georgia Avenue Northwest for Saturday's parade.
“This is the place to be from. It gives you many opportunities to do anything and everything you want to do," said Randall. "You come from this university very well prepared. Not only for life, but for business or whatever you’re doing. I’m such a proud graduate. I try to come back as often as I can.”
Each visit is usually a reunion.
“From Wednesday until today, I’ve seen quite a few classmates," said Shana Ervin from the class of 1987. "Some I hadn’t seen in many, many years.”
A bond that lasts forever and tradition current students admire.
“I love the fact everybody gets to come back to one spot. See their old friends, old family," said James Arye, a sophomore at Howard. "It’s always great to see, man.”
In person or, in Jeffrey Herbert's case, through a lens.
"My best friends I got here, from Howard and everything," said Herbert, a 1982 alum of Howard who was taking pictures the parade. "Love it, love it, love it. H-U! The real H-U!”