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Date: 7/11/2018
EAST LONGMEADOW – Our 2018 East Longmeadow 4th of July Parade was a great (on time) success. Once again, the parade was extremely well attended with onlookers lining the parade route, the sun was shining, maybe a little too much, and the participants dedicated to giving their all.
The members of the Parade Committee would like to extend a huge thank you to all of those involved in making the parade a success: sponsors, business, organizations, friends, family and our police and sheriff department officers. Over the years, the parade has been well supported and without that support, our efforts to celebrate Independence Day. It was an honor to have so many military men and women from Veterans to Active Duty, Reserve, and Guard.
Congratulations to the following musical groups: Best Marching Unit –Springfield Italian American Band; Best Color Guard – Windsor Fife and Drum Corps; Best Fife & Drum Corps – Marquis of Granby Fife & Drum; Best General Effect Overall – East Longmeadow High School; Most Entertaining Musical Unit – Hartford Steel Band; Best Cadence – Windsor Fife and Drum Corps; and, Best Drum Major – Marquis of Granby.
Congratulations to the following float award winners: Patriotic Class Floats: 1st Place – Lenox; 2nd Place – South Hadley Veterans/Parade Committee and, 3rd Place– Cub Scouts Pack 272. Open Class Floats: 1st Place – Springfield Elks, 2nd Place – Chicopee Parade Committee, and 3rd Place – East Longmeadow Lions Club. Hometown Award Floats: 1st Place – Maybury Material Handling, 2nd Place – Cory J Garwacki Foundation, and 3rd Place – Pioneer Gymnastics.
Congratulations to the following fire departments: Best Appearing Overall Fire Apparatus – Longmeadow Fire Department, 2018 E-One, eMax Typhoon, Rescue Pump; Best Appearing Pumper 2000’s – Somers Fire Department, Squad 246, 2013 Four Guys Pumper; Best Appearing Pumper, 70s, 80s, 90s – Agawam Fire Department, Engine 12; Best Appearing Tanker – Shaker Pines Fire Department, Engine 52, 1000 Gallon Tanker; and, Best Appearing Antique – Hampden Fire Department, 1938 Ford Truck.
Special Thanks to East Longmeadow residents, our band and unit sponsors, area and community organizations; and, businesses, Charlie Arment Trucking, Go Graphix, Hampden Engineering, Custom Auto Body/Norris Trailer Sales, The Donut Dip, East Longmeadow Rotary Club, ELCAT, Joe Pereria, Lenox/American Saw, Maybury Handling, Reminder Publications, St. Michael’s Parish, Stop & Shop, WB Hill Inc and Wingate of East Longmeadow.
The Parade Committee extends special appreciation to all the Banner Carriers and Parade Marshals. Without your enduring support, the parade would not be as successful or organized. Also, this parade was supported in part by a grant from the East Longmeadow Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Thanks to the council for its support.
If you would like to see more information about the parade, please visit the website: http://www.eastlongmeadowma.gov/4th. If you would like to submit input/feedback about the parade, please send your comments to 4th@eastlongmeadowma.gov.