11/18/2025
🎄🎁 It’s that time of year again 🎁🎄
We are proud to present to you the 55th Annual Pilot Mountain Christmas Parade Grand Marshal!
This year, the Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad has selected Mr. Bowen Horton!
Bowen is a jaw dropping bundle of pure toughness, grit and absolute joy being only 8 months old!!!
At birth, no one knew Bowen had a congenital heart defect. At just one month old, he was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), a condition that changed his families world overnight. From then on, Bowen underwent continuous cardiology appointments and monitoring until his open-heart surgery at Duke Medical Center at only seven months old.
His mother Mrs. Baylee Horton said, “the surgery was intense, something no baby should ever have to face, but Bowen fought through it with incredible strength. After a week in the hospital, he came home healing, smiling, and proving to everyone what a true heart warrior looks like.”
Now at eight months old, Bowen is a happy, thriving baby who has already overcome more than many people face in a lifetime. Though he will have some lifelong precautions and future procedures ahead, he continues to grow, shine, and inspire everyone around him.
The Hortons thank God every day for their precious Bowen, and wish to thank Pilot Mountain Rescue for the honor of choosing him as this year’s Grand Marshall.
“He is truly our miracle and our hero.”
We at Pilot Rescue wish to resound Mrs. Horton’s words in that he is our hero as well.
On Saturday, December 6th, Mr. Bowen Horton will lead the way down Main as we join together to usher in the Christmas season! Please ensure that you are in attendance and give a warm welcome to yet another local hometown hero!
The Rescue Squad is thankful to the Hortons for joining us this year and we look forward to seeing everyone there!!
As always, Merry (Early) Christmas from all of us at the Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad and may we never forget the Reason for the Season!
